Daycare with locations across U.S. greenlit to build first central Ohio academy

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- A daycare chain boasted as the "innovator in educational child care" with locations across the East Coast received final approval to build its first Ohio academy in the Columbus area.

A proposal by Lightbridge Academy, a New Jersey-based daycare chain, to build a location on a 1.68-acre Dublin site near the intersection of Frantz Road and Blazer Parkway was approved by the Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission on June 20.

The site will feature a 12,571-square-foot, single-story daycare located in the north portion of the property, an increase of 160 square feet since the commission last reviewed the proposal. A 6,492-square-foot playground will be located to the southwest of building, with 58 parking spaces occupying the southern portion of the site.

Lightbridge's Dublin academy will sport of blue exterior, a change made after the commission expressed concern the structure would be too dark. While fencing in Dublin typically does not exceed four feet in height, the commission granted Lightbridge to build a 5-foot, black aluminum fence to prevent the students from climbing.

With more than 150 locations across the eastern U.S., Lightbridge claims its centers are "more than just a day care," providing "a stimulating learning environment and comprehensive curriculum for infants, toddlers and preschoolers." The academy is known for offering extended hours, back-up care and even special events like "Parent's Night Out."

"My wife Julia and I are parents of three sons and eight grandchildren. We know first-hand the struggles of the working parent," states found Guy Falzarano on the company's site. "Which is why we made it our mission to provide the kind of support, education and care that cannot be found anywhere else in the child care industry."