Mebane Planning Board Approves Rezoning for Major Childcare Center
Mebane planning board voted unanimously to rezone a parcel at 1111 South Fifth Street to allow Children’s Campus to build a large childcare facility, a decision that could add capacity for about 200 children and materially expand local childcare availability. The move matters to families, employers and city planners because it would increase licensed slots by nearly 50 percent while raising environmental and traffic questions before the City Council reviews the rezoning in January 2026.
On December 17, the Mebane Planning Board approved a rezoning request by a vote of 7 to 0 that would permit regional operator Children’s Campus to develop a childcare facility at 1111 South Fifth Street. The proposed center would add roughly 200 childcare spaces to the city, where six existing centers currently provide space for about 450 children. If built, the new center would represent a significant expansion of licensed capacity in Mebane.
Planning staff emphasized that the rezoning would not guarantee construction, and that alternative office and institutional uses would remain permitted on the parcel if the childcare project does not proceed. Company officials have said purchase and construction timelines will depend on final approval by the Mebane City Council, which is expected to consider the rezoning in January 2026.
Neighbors raised concerns during the planning board process about potential environmental hazards on the site, specifically the possibility of underground storage tanks. Planning staff noted those concerns and indicated that environmental due diligence will be part of later permitting and development processes if the council approves the rezoning and the developer moves forward with purchase and construction.
The proposal has clear public policy implications. Expanded childcare capacity can improve access for working families, reduce wait times for early childhood placement and support local employers by easing childcare constraints that affect workforce participation. At the same time the location and scale of a new center will require the city to evaluate traffic impacts, parking, pedestrian safety and any environmental remediation obligations tied to prior site uses.
The planning board vote signals institutional support for the project, but the City Council has the decisive role. Residents and stakeholders who want to influence the outcome will have the opportunity at the council hearing in January 2026. The council decision will determine whether the parcel moves from a rezoned entitlement to an active construction project that reshapes Mebane’s childcare landscape.
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