Day-care center faces new challenge from neighbors

Greg Risling

COSTA MESA -- If there wasn’t enough to worry about for teachers of an

East Side day-care center this month, they must contend with another

challenge from their neighbors.

Staffers at Southcoast Early Childhood Learning Center, a site where two

children were killed last May by an oncoming car, are embroiled in a

dispute over the center’s permit with the city. This comes after a

drawn-out discussion in the fall about a concrete wall that was built

after the tragedy.

“It’s so frustrating to go through this, especially since we are still

trying to heal,” said day-care center owner Sheryl Hawkinson. “I don’t

think anything we do is good enough.”

The month of January was already shaping up to be an emotional roller

coaster for the center’s staff. On Friday, the 39-year-old man who killed

Sierra Soto and Brandon Wiener when he drove his aging Cadillac onto a

bustling playground is scheduled to appear in court. Both mothers of the

slain children, along with Hawkinson, plan to attend the hearing.

Teachers are also readying the school for a public ceremony where a

memorial plaque for Sierra and Brandon will be dedicated Jan. 22.

But hanging over their heads are the repetitive complaints by neighbors.

Several neighbors opposing the center have stood in solidarity. They

initially complained how the wall, which was built last summer, hindered

motorists’ views and was a safety hazard. City planners listened to their

arguments but later issued a special permit to the Lighthouse Coastal

Community Church, which owns the center property.

Neighbors have redirected their attention on the validity of the center’s

use permit, which they consider outdated. Issued in 1965, the permit calls for a kindergarten through eighth-grade private school. Neighbors

argue that the day-care center operation doesn’t comply with the permit

and that Hawkinson didn’t apply for a new permit to allow a preschool to

exist. A lapse between different operators at the site should also

require Hawkinson to apply for a new permit, they said.

Deputy City Manager Donald Lamm responded to the list of complaints filed

by one of the neighbors, Paul Wilbur. In the letter, Lamm said use

permits don’t expire when there is a change in tenants. Lamm also wrote

that the school has met city and state regulations, adding that the city

won’t proceed to seek a new permit from the school.

The discussion, which came before the city’s last Planning Commission

meeting, intrigued board members enough to hold the matter over until

Monday, when they will attend a study session.

“I felt a little bit uncomfortable with the realm of issues at the

school,” said commission chairman Walter Davenport. “I don’t feel I

understood all of the issues, so we want to get a better picture of what

is going on at the school.”

Wilbur was contacted Wednesday, but refrained from making any comments

until after the study session.

Hawkinson feels the day-care center has met all of the city’s criteria.

“We haven’t done anything wrong,” she said. “We’ve done everything the

city and neighbors have asked for.”