All six of the city's planning commissioners recommend approval of the construction of a 2,880-square-foot modular building at the church on the corner of Park Avenue and W. Hedding Street.

The new facility would be built and operated by the Central Coast Baptists Association.

George Yates, representing the group, told the commissioners during a Feb. 22 meeting, "We bring a solution to a critical area of need in the city of San Jose."

Yates cited a city-funded survey by Godbe Research released earlier this year that estimates there are 5,515 children in need of childcare that is not available.

Five church members spoke in favor of approving the permit.

The only opposition came in the form of an email from Earl Koberlein, owner of a home on Chapman Street backing up to the church parking lot, near where the childcare center is planned.

When Earl and Barbara Koberlein purchased their property in 1973, there was a gate at the rear of the lot that provided access to their back yard from the church parking lot. The previous owners had put it in to access a garage in the back corner of the lot.

Koberlein wrote, "We have used this gate eight to 10 times a year, during daylight hours, to access our back yard. There is no other access to the back of our yard."

Yates told the commissioners they would work with Koberlein to be "a good neighbor" and try and accommodate his needs.

Although the gate has been there for decades, and Koberlein wrote, "We believe we have perscriptive rights to the use of this gate," city staff pointed out the gate has never been given a permit.

Yates seemed confident a compromise could be worked out.

As part of the permit, the church will fully landscape what is now a barren parking lot, adding trees and shrubbery.

Prior to the hearing, Yates said the center will serve up to 70 children, from age 2 through those entering kindergarten.

The center would operate on weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., within the city guidelines of 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Parent-teacher conferences and open houses held outside of usual operating hours would be limited to two or three times a year.

Yates said while the childcare center is at a Baptist church, it is open to everyone.

"We will have a stipulation that no less than 50 percent [of families served] be from outside the church," Yates said. "The idea is to connect with the community. The community says this is a need and we keep reading it is the No. 1 need to families with children."

If the city council approves the plans, as expected, Yates said he hopes the center is operational by the third week in August.