The Little Lighthouse Learning & Care Center applied for an amended conditional use permit to expand its facility from its original location at 416 W. Walnut St., to include 410 and 420 W. Walnut, so more children could be accommodated.

However, the owner of the daycare doesn’t plan on expanding anymore than it already has, because it expanded over the past several years without amending its 2012 conditional-use permit, according to Danville-Boyle County Planning and Zoning Director Steve Hunter.

At the P&Z Board of Adjustments meeting Thursday, Hunter said the owner of Little Lighthouse, Lucinda Mingey, originally operated her business in one portion of the building at 416 W. Walnut. The business then expanded into the “footprint” where a dental office had been operating. Eventually, the daycare also expanded into the ground floor of a neighboring building, where two apartments occupy the second floor.

In 2012, the daycare’s permit was for only one portion of the building where 40 children were cared for, Hunter said. Today, the center takes care of about 100 children, Hunter said.

“Business is good and daycares are needed and this business has grown on the property. They just got ahead of themselves a tad bit before they came and talked to you guys,” Hunter told the board of adjustments.

Mingy’s attorney, Chris Tucker, said Little Lighthouse was a successful business “and vital to the downtown area. She (Mingy) enjoys being downtown and wants to stay downtown.”

He said in not asking the board of adjustments for an amended conditional use permit as Mingey expanded her business, “It was just basically an oversight, a misunderstanding. She believed she had the conditional use for those buildings.”

Tucker said as they became aware of the situation, they immediately took steps to correct it. “There was not anything willful or malicious. It was just an oversight.”

Mingy said Little Lighthouse is licensed for 121 children by the Commonwealth of Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, but she doesn’t want to “pack them in there.”

After some discussion about parking availability and appropriate signage to be approved by the Architectural Heritage Board, the board granted an amended conditional-use permit for the facility to care for up to 110 children.