DO & PU Zone Out on Sidewalk

[ardeur]

I'm getting licensed this summer to take on more children and so far my daycare has been small enough for this to not be a problem. Anyhow, we have very limited parking inside our association for parents to DO and PU. Also, the only way for parents to get inside the gate is to scroll through 36 names on the call box until they reach ours (it only scrolls in one direction) and do this every time they enter. It will ring my phone and I have to go through two steps on my phone just to open the gate for them. I'd be doing this 6-8 times each morning and afternoon depending on how many families I have enrolled. Our HOA has absolutely refused to let me have extra gate cards for my parents and there is no gate code.

Soo... do you think parents might go for something like the following? I've attached a picture of an area directly outside our gate where parents could parallel park for DO & PU. I'd keep the children back on the grassy area underneath the pine trees. I'll be running a preschool so this would be 3-5 year olds. We have mild weather year-round where I live (no freezes, no snow, no hurricanes/tornadoes, etc.). The street in question is not busy and parking is always available there (and legal). Good idea? Bad?

I figure I'd tell parents that they have to come inside if it were raining, which also doesn't happen often here unfortunately.

[happymom]

It seems like a great idea, especially if it's run like a preschool and everyone has the same dropoff/pickup time.

It's kind of like a reverse bus stop

[Leigh]

I'm getting licensed this summer to take on more children and so far my daycare has been small enough for this to not be a problem. Anyhow, we have very limited parking inside our association for parents to DO and PU. Also, the only way for parents to get inside the gate is to scroll through 36 names on the call box until they reach ours (it only scrolls in one direction) and do this every time they enter. It will ring my phone and I have to go through two steps on my phone just to open the gate for them. I'd be doing this 6-8 times each morning and afternoon depending on how many families I have enrolled. Our HOA has absolutely refused to let me have extra gate cards for my parents and there is no gate code.

Soo... do you think parents might go for something like the following? I've attached a picture of an area directly outside our gate where parents could parallel park for DO & PU. I'd keep the children back on the grassy area underneath the pine trees. I'll be running a preschool so this would be 3-5 year olds. We have mild weather year-round where I live (no freezes, no snow, no hurricanes/tornadoes, etc.). The street in question is not busy and parking is always available there (and legal). Good idea? Bad?

I figure I'd tell parents that they have to come inside if it were raining, which also doesn't happen often here unfortunately.

Are those on the HOA friendly with you, or are they the kind who search for rules to enforce to make themselves feel important? If they're flexible, maybe you could require all drop offs to be in a 15 minute window and the HOA would leave the gate open for just that period on weekdays? I don't think that the method of getting in bothers the parents as much as it does you (you're the one who gets interrupted!).

[ardeur]

We have only been members this year so far and while they seem very friendly, they have been very strict about parking and the traffic into the complex. They already told me no when I asked for extra gate cards.

So my idea above would be an attempt to be a good hoa member. My daycare business is protected by state laws which means they are not allowed to do anything to prevent me from providing this service. But I want to be a good neighbor.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I think that's a great idea for your situation. Really, pick ups outdoors are easier anyways.

If you have a drop off window that would work well for drop offs as well.

[Blackcat31]

We have only been members this year so far and while they seem very friendly, they have been very strict about parking and the traffic into the complex. They already told me no when I asked for extra gate cards.

So my idea above would be an attempt to be a good hoa member. My daycare business is protected by state laws which means they are not allowed to do anything to prevent me from providing this service. But I want to be a good neighbor.

Can you link to this state rule?

I am curious as to how it reads and what protections it offers.