DERRY — The Zoning Board of Adjustment recently approved a special exception allowing a home day care business to operate at 10 Windham Road.

Several board members did have some questions about parking at the home because the driveway does not meet zoning regulations that it be 25 feet from the front property line.

However, town building inspector Robert Mackey noted that the home was built before many of the town zoning ordinances came into effect, making it a pre-existing nonconforming lot.

Geoffrey Medina, the husband of day care operator Kristin Medina, said there is ample room for parking on the property off-street. Kristin Medina stated there is not usually more than one parent at a time dropping off children.

“There are only six kids, and the parents do not usually pull up at the same time,” she said.

There will be no other employees at the home day care other than Medina, and state and local regulations will keep the number of children at six or fewer.

The 288-square-foot day care area is just under the maximum 25 percent home area allowed for a home business, according to ZBA Chairman Allan Virr.

“There is always a balance between the 25 percent of living space with the state requirement that there be 40 square feet of space per child,” said Virr.

One neighbor did send a letter of support to the ZBA, noting that the Medinas have renovated and maintained the house and that she had no issues as a direct abutter with the business operating at 10 Windham Road.

In addition to the special exception from the ZBA, the Medinas will also need local fire and health inspection approvals as well as final state approval for the business, Virr said.

aswift@newstote.com