With most of Burnaby declared a “childcare desert” — where there are more kids than available spaces — the city is considering opening up its zoning to allow daycares in busy commercial areas.
The proposed changes would allow daycares to set up shop in the city’s areas zoned for commercial use, where they are currently disallowed. Under the current rules, an operator would have to apply to have a commercial site rezoned in order to open a childcare facility but many don’t bother trying due to the time and costs, according to a city report presented to council on Monday.
“The proposed amendment would potentially expand the range of available child care facility sites, thereby contributing to the building of complete communities — communities that contain a range of services, amenities, employment and transit within their own boundaries.”
But the changes could also open up the possibility of a daycare opening beside a bar, liquor store or other “adult-oriented business,” the report says.
Those concerns are mitigated by the regulations already in place for both types of facilities, according to city staff.
Fraser Health inspects all childcare facilities to make sure they’re safe.
“Licensing is contingent upon the applicant satisfactorily addressing any hazards or risks from the surrounding environment that are observed to directly impact the premise,” the report says. “If the above are not satisfactorily addressed, Fraser Health may deny a child care facility application.”
And the city must approve any new “adult-oriented uses” for new businesses. For example, if a bar wanted to open up next to a daycare, the city would have to first consider the impact it would have.
Allowing more daycares in commercial areas would play into the city’s overall plan to densify and centralize housing, services and employment around SkyTrain stations, city staff say.
The proposal has not yet been approved by council and is expected to go to a public hearing at a date yet to be determined.
