City council has delayed making a decision on changing the capacity of licensed childcare centres after a complaint from a rural resident.
Haldi Road homeowner Janice Sevin said making amendments to the definitions of major and minor community care facilities would unfairly affect those in rural residential-zoned areas.
The proposed changes would double the amount of children permitted in a community care facility, minor, to 12 and allow a daycare in a zoning allowing community care facility, major, to bring in 13 or more.
According to the planning department, this change was instigated by the fact the BC Community Care and Assisted Living Act now includes group childcare programs for up to 12 school-aged children following the implementation of all-day kindergarten.
But Sevin said some changes need to be looked at more closely when they will affect zoning within the entire city boundary.
"I object to this change and make the point that any community care facility in the rural residential areas, not just Haldi, designated under the [Official Community Plan] may be inconsistent with the OCP," she said.
Sevin also brought up concerns regarding the strain on the water supply for neighbourhoods not serviced by city water and sewer.
"Only areas that have city water and sewer should be allowed to have the changes and, for safety purposes, enable proper fire protection," said Sevin, who also posed a number of questions that acting director of planning and development Ian Wells was not able to immediately answer.
Coun. Brian Skakun said he was concerned about the questions asked not getting answered before council voted to move the bylaw amendment to third reading.
Council voted to adjourn the public hearing until the Oct. 1 council meeting to allow Sevin time to meet with the planning department and for council to also get the answers to her questions.
