by April Scheinoha
reporter
Plans are moving forward to open another Discovery Place Early Learning Center location in Thief River Falls. At its meeting on Tuesday, August 20, the Thief River Falls City Council discussed several matters related to Discovery Place’s plans.
The City Council granted Discovery Place a conditional building permit to operate a daycare center for 13 or more children at Valley Assisted Living.
In an interview with The Times, Chelsea Moeller, director of Discovery Place, said the daycare is tentatively scheduled to open at the Valley Assisted Living location in May or June 2025. Renovations at the location must be completed, and the Minnesota Department of Human Services for Children must issue a license after renovations are complete. Discovery Place will continue to operate at its current location on Nora Street in Thief River Falls.
Discovery Place plans to create a maximum of 156 places at the Valley Assisted Living location. The current location has a maximum of 91 places.
Valley Assisted Living will continue to offer assisted living with dementia services at its facility.
The City Council held a first reading to rezone a property owned by Valley Assisted Living from the general business district (C-2) to the general residential district (R-2). Valley Assisted Living plans to build a parking lot for Discovery Place at this location. Council is expected to discuss the matter at a future meeting.
Valley Assisted Living recently bought the property back from MAK Construction. MAK Construction had planned to build a multi-use building with apartments and commercial space on the site. Based on MAK Construction’s plans, the City Council rezoned the property to C-2. It had previously been zoned R-2.
The council held a first reading to amend an off-street parking ordinance. If approved, the amendment would also include off-street parking for daycare centers, which is not currently included in the ordinance. Economic and Community Development Director Richard Baker said the proposed amendment would require one parking space for 12 daycare visitors and one parking space for each employee, subject to maximum staffing.
The proposed amendment will be discussed at one of the next Council meetings.
The City Council held a first reading for a preliminary use permit. The city currently has conditional use permits attached to the property deed. Baker explained that a preliminary use permit would function similarly to a conditional use permit in that neighbors would be notified of the permit application in advance. However, Baker said the council can review a preliminary use permit after three years or more. The council is expected to discuss the matter at a future meeting.
