CNV debates day-care approval process: Some residents want input into decisions
North Shore News
20 Oct 2006
By: Heidi Castle

EXCERPT

City of North Vancouver council discussed its child-care policy in a public forum Monday, reaffirming its commitment to group day care in residential neighbourhoods.

Currently, the city allows group day cares for up to 20 children to operate in single-family neighbourhoods without the need for public consultation.

What council now wants is a review on ways to include public opinion when it comes to the location and impact of large scale day cares within communities.

"I personally believe day cares belong in residential neighbourhoods and that's where they should stay, close to where kids are," said Mayor Darrell Mussatto. "We have to learn how to coexist."

While there are issues related to some day cares in communities, municipalities need more space not less, said Mussatto.

With demand for day care exceeding supply, and the failure of provincial and federal government programs, the burden falls to local government, he said.

"Local governments have to try to step up to the plate," said Mussatto.

City policy came under scrutiny recently.... Neighbours ... were shocked to learn that the city's policy was one of outright use with no mechanism for public consultation.

The ... told council Monday that they are not against day care, and that as parents they understand the need. What they want is to amend the current bylaw to include public input and to ensure that facilities are compatible with surrounding neighbourhoods, they said.

They are concerned about the impact of noise and traffic, two issues they said they have already faced in the past week the newly opened day care has been in operation.

"I think we're all going in the same direction, it's just a matter of how we solve the problem," said...

He said he prefers the District of North Vancouver's model that seeks public input and has licensing regulations.

The District of West Vancouver has a public consultation process while allowing up to 20 children in care. The City of Burnaby allows 10 children and requires rezoning and a public hearing. The City of New Westminster allows up to 25 children with rezoning, public hearing and council approval while the City of Surrey allows 25 children as an outright use in child-care specified zones.

"We don't need more obstacles, we need more space, more flexibility," said Mark Will, a board member for the Lonsdale Creek Daycare Centre Society.

Will told council that in the 32 years LCDC has been in operation, the past four years have witnessed the steepest increase in demand for space.

He said LCDC has a waitlist of some 680 children for its facility.

He said bylaw restrictions will hamper accessibility and affordability, two things families clearly need.

Prior to a 1988, a group day care could set up business only with council approval and a petition with majority support by neighbours within 150 feet of the proposed facility.

City council abandoned that policy as illegal that year.

Commercial day-care facilities operate under business licences that come up for review and renewal yearly, said Coun. Craig Keating.

Issues arising from day-care conflicts could be managed in the same way the city handled complaints about the Shore nightclub, through the business licence process, said Keating.