Preschool Operator Seeks Permit

Rose Marie Zaring said she didn’t know she needed a special zoning permit to operate a day care and later a preschool at her home.

She has been taking care of children in one capacity or another for 30 years, she said.

City fire inspectors discovered the lapse earlier this year, and now Zaring is scheduled to appear before the city hearing examiner on a request for the special permit.

The hearing will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the second floor conference room at City Hall.

Zaring runs Rosie’s Romper Room out of her home at 1918 S. Markwell Court.

Her permit application seeks city approval of her preschool for children from ages 30 months to 5 years old.

Zaring said she was unaware she needed a special permit but will comply with the zoning law now that the city has told her she needs a permit.

Zoning official Steve Haynes said there is no penalty for operating without a permit, and Zaring’s probably isn’t the only facility in Spokane to go without one.

Unless neighbors complain, the city has a hard time finding out who is operating a child facility illegally.

In recent months, Zaring has been the subject of a state investigation of whether she operates an illegal daycare service. She had her day-care license revoked in 1991 after state regulators found her caring for 25 children, 15 more than her license allowed.

After that, Zaring began operating a preschool, which has fewer restrictions but is limited to four-hour daily sessions.