Van Nuys Child-Care Plan Rejected : Zoning: A city official says the 100-child facility is too large for the proposed site in a neighborhood of single-family houses.

A city zoning official Friday rejected a plan to build a 100-child preschool within a Van Nuys neighborhood of single-family houses after neighbors complained about potential noise and traffic problems.

After a two-hour hearing at the Van Nuys Woman’s Club, associate city zoning administrator Jon Perica denied the conditional-use permit sought by Tarzana-based Woodcrest Preschool Inc. Woodcrest wanted to build a 5,000-square-foot preschool on a lot now occupied by a single-family house at 15230 Clark St.

Although the city supports small day-care centers in such neighborhoods, Perica said, “this is too large for this particular site.”

Perica asked whether Woodcrest could significantly reduce the school’s enrollment. But Karen Blackwell, a planner representing the school and the property owner, said the project would not be financially viable if there were fewer than 80 children.

“I wasn’t shocked,” she said after Perica denied the permit. Blackwell said day-care centers, hospices and similar facilities commonly face strong opposition when they attempt to open in neighborhoods of single-family homes. She said she was uncertain whether the school will ask the Los Angeles Board of Zoning Appeals to overturn Perica’s decision.

About 60 people who live near the Clark Street site attended the mid-day hearing, unanimously opposing the preschool. They were joined by spokesmen for City Councilman Marvin Braude and the Van Nuys Homeowners Assn.

“I’m overjoyed,” said Leon Silverman, a community activist. “It shows me the power of a neighborhood.”

The residents insisted they do not oppose child-care centers. But they argued that a preschool for 100 children was not compatible with their quiet cluster of single-family houses. They said serious traffic tie-ups would occur when parents dropped off and picked up youngsters. They said the influx of cars and the children’s outdoor play would create noise problems.

Woodcrest’s representatives said the traffic and noise problems could be addressed by building a circular driveway in front and a high wall around the rear yard, but neighbors challenged the effectiveness of these measures. The residents also said that allowing the preschool might open the door to other commercial projects in the neighborhood.

Woodcrest operates a preschool for 50 children in Sherman Oaks. Citing an urgent need for more child care, school officials said they wanted to relocate to Clark Street and double their enrollment.

“I think we as a council office would be willing to work with them to look for a site that’s more acceptable,” Cindy Miscikowski, Braude’s chief deputy, said at the hearing.