Sundre parents are poised to have a new local daycare option.
Council recently approved a request to amend the land use bylaw to allow the facility in Spruce Crescent — located in the northwest part of town — following no vocal opposition during a public hearing regarding the matter.
The purpose of the bylaw amendment is to add a definition for a daycare facility in a neighbourhood as well as to amend the Mobile Home District discretionary uses to include said definition, Denica Crosbie, town planner, told council during its June 6 meeting.
However, the land use bylaw is currently under review, she added.
“This is a lengthy process and at this time the land use bylaw does not define nor list a daycare facility as a permitted or discretionary use in any district. The only mention in the land use bylaw is of child-care facilities in the serviced estate residential district, Eagle Ridge area, and there is no definition to clearly describe what this term actually means.”
As part of the land use bylaw review, it has been noted that a daycare business is a use that needs to be included on a high priority list due to the number of requests for child care, she said.
“Prior to receiving this bylaw amendment, planning and development was already actively looking into adding this new land use. The applicant was advised that this was a high priority topic for the department, but decided to apply for the land use bylaw amendment in order to speed up the process for this site-specific area.”
As per Sundre's municipal development plan, which was approved by council in 2013, town officials shall take measures to support the development of home occupations, home daycare facilities as well as bed and breakfast establishments in residential neighbourhoods as a secondary use of a dwelling unit where the secondary commercial use is compatible within residential areas. Of the residents located within a 60-metre radius of the proposed daycare, two responded that they did not support the facility, she said.
“I did receive one letter from a neighbouring residence that they were in support of that,” she added.
However, no one attended the public hearing, which had been advertised, to vocally express any opposition.
“The proposed amendments were also circulated to internal departments and external agencies,” she said.
“Operations, bylaw, economic development, Mountain View County and BSEI (the town's engineers), had no concerns with the amendment.”
Comments from Alberta Health Services were that the daycare facility must be reviewed and approved by an executive officer or public health inspector prior to construction or renovations, she said.
Without anyone speaking against the request, council proceeded to carry second and third readings.
