"I will run an excellent day care," Hazel Hickman implored the Monroeville zoning board on May 4 in a last-ditch effort to get permission to run a home business.

Her request had already failed because no one would second a motion to approve a home occupation permit at 523 Thomas St. The board still had to make a ruling but was reluctant to deny her request.

A similar issue had come up in April, when Juaneece Clark asked permission to run a day-care business at 4419 Burma Road. The board rejected that request, 4-1, after seven neighbors said the business would add too much traffic, create too much noise and reduce the value of their properties.

Like Clark, Hickman wants to supplement her income by providing day care for up to six children. She said she inherited the house from an aunt who had a certificate to run a day-care business.

This time one neighbor objected. Wanda Scott said the business would be too noisy, particularly to her elderly mother-in-law. She also questioned the information about a previous day care.

"I've lived there more than 30 years, and this is the first I've heard that there was a day-care center next to us," she said.

Robert Grimes suggested that Hickman try to work out a solution with her neighbors, and then the board voted unanimously to table the request.

"Talk with your neighbors and have them come out, hopefully, in your favor," said Chairman Gregory Erosenko. "This buys you some time. Use it wisely."

The board approved a home business at 4401 McKenzie Drive for Dr. Kathy Genco, a psychologist. Homeowner Andrea Nickel testified that there was plenty of parking, the office would be open for no more than 20 hours a week, and the house had been used previously as a doctor's office.

Neighbor Raymond Bradley objected that even the occasional patient would add traffic on busy Center Road.

The board approved the request 3-1, with Frank Rawson dissenting.

Also approved were variances for Sylvan Learning Center for a tutoring business in the Holiday Center Shopping Center on William Penn Highway, for Geoffrey and Tracy Leah to build a storage shed at 119 Rockwood St., for Christopher and Amy McCrackin to build a storage shed at 1997 Butler St., and for James and Janice Hunter to build a garage at 210 Pinevue Drive.