Groton ― A planned expansion of Thames Valley Council for Community Action’s child care facility, approved this week, will ultimately nearly double the number of children it serves to up to 150.

But, due to construction that will take more than a year, about 50 children that attend the program now will need to find new spots in the meantime.

The Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday unanimously approved the site plan for an expanded child care facility that will increase the number of slots from 86 to up to 150.

The plan calls for demolishing two of TVCCA’s three buildings on Central Avenue to make way for the new 23,000-square-foot facility, according to the application.

One of the three buildings, the day care early learning facility at 40 Central Ave., will remain open during the estimated 14- to 16-month-long construction project. Once the new facility opens, the building will become administrative offices, according to TVCCA’s presentation to the commission.

Kristen Lambert, a parent whose daughter goes to preschool through TVCCA, asked the commission to reconsider the TVCCA’s plan. Lambert said it’s hard to find quality child care programs, and her daughter doesn’t want to move because she likes her school and teachers.

TVCCA Chief Executive Officer Deborah Monahan said 20 slots for children were temporarily relocated, and TVCCA is trying to relocate 30 slots in Groton, possibly in school classrooms.

She said once funding is secured, TVCCA can begin construction.

Monahan said last month that the center is estimated to cost $17 million. She said TVCCA has $3 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that was recommended by U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., has recommended another $3 million that needs approval from Congress and TVCCA has applied for $13 million from the state’s Community Investment Fund. TVCCA also is looking for different funding sources.

The facility is located on 3.5 acres of land that TVCCA has been leasing from the town.

Town Manager John Burt said the town and TVCCA are very close to wrapping up a new lease that would allow for a new building. He said he’d like to have the Town Council Committee of the Whole discuss the new lease next month. A public hearing date would need to be set.

Plan details

With the expansion, staffing will grow from 26 people to 43, according to the application.

The facility would house administrative offices, two classroom wings, and a kitchen, according to the presentation. The building, which no longer will have brick materials, will have fiber cement siding, clad windows, asphalt shingle roofs, and a cupola at the entrance.

After approving a special permit last month, the commission on Thursday approved the site plan, while stipulating several modifications, including for a “detailed construction phasing plan that addresses the sequencing of drainage, landscaping and sidewalk installation while prioritizing the safety of the children and staff using 40 Central Avenue.”

Town Assistant Planning Director Deb Jones said the main concern is how parents will access the building and children will play outside during construction, so a plan needs to be in place.

Public Works recommended additional lighting so there would be more light during the winter, she said. The commission made no changes to the lighting.

During public comment, resident Roscoe Merritt, who is a Representative Town Meeting member, said his neighbors would rather see a day care center in the area rather than the existing park next to the TVCCA facility, as there are already several parks nearby. But he said they would like the basketball court, behind the facility, moved to the front with a fence and lights that would shut off at 10 p.m.

With the new project, the park at the corner of Midway Oval and Central Avenue will disappear along with the basketball court, Jones said. She said Parks and Recreation did not like the location, because it was difficult to monitor, and has suggested constructing a new basketball court at the nearby Raheem Ali Carter Memorial Park.

k.drelich@theday.com