Mobile woman seeks permission to expand home day care [Video]

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – A woman who has been running a day care out of her house for nearly 28 years has support of her neighbors, homeowners association and customers to double the number of children she takes care of.

But she lacks the backing of one important player – her own council member.

“We want it to stop short of being a commercial operation. … Basically, you got to convert your house in a residential neighborhood to business,” District 4 Councilman Ben Reynolds told FOX10 News on Tuesday.

The city caps the number of children in home-based day cares at five. But under the Mobile’s updated zoning laws, adopted in 2022, operators can increase that as long as they comply with a series of requirements. The Mobile Planning Commission signed off on Deborah May’s application, but the ultimate decision rests with the council.

Several people spoke in favor of May’s proposal …