A public information session about a proposed daycare did little to sway either side from their fixed positions.
About 16 neighbours attended an information session last week hosted by Tina Bootsma, who has proposed to set up a daycare centre at 96 Yorkton Ave. But the tone of the meeting differed little from the February public hearing before council.
Nearby residents fear a daycare would disrupt their neighbourhood, with an increase in traffic from parents dropping off their children, and noise from exuberant youngsters playing outside.
“I love the idea of a daycare centre. It has nothing to do with your ability to run a daycare. All it is for myself and a lot of the neighbours is it is too many children in the neighbourhood,” Lenora Robson said. “It’s just the wrong location. It is a lovely location for children, it is just the wrong location for a large daycare.”
Other participants commented that they didn’t want a business two doors down from their house.
Bootsma said she chose this location, and to set up the day care in a home, because it would create a good environment for the children.
“Our main reason for doing this is to provide quality childcare for children in Penticton. This is a family and community area in Penticton and is a growing and developing area,” said Bootsma, adding that having Skaha Lake Park only a short walk away added to the desirability, with a range of activities for the children.
“We were just overwhelmed with how many things are available now at Skaha Park. That was part of the reason we chose this neighbourhood,” said Bootsma, adding that she had no plans to make major changes to the home.
“We don’t plan on gutting the house. The whole reason that we are doing this is we want it to be like a home,” she said. “It’s pretty good the way it is right now.”
Bootsma told those at the meeting that she had looked at many other spaces, from warehouses to church basements, but failed to find one that met both her requirements and regulations.
“A majority of commercial buildings do not have outside play space and are not close to a play space,” she said.
Noise was another concern expressed by several of the concerned neighbours, many of whom are retirees. Bootsma explained her program is structured, with music, reading and other activities, and the children would only be outside for limited times in the morning and afternoon.
The children would be outside for an hour in the morning, she explained, which would be followed by lunch, reading, music and snacks.
“Then they go outside again for about half an hour. Or, we are hoping, when the weather is good, we would take them to the park,” said Bootsma.
One argument laid to rest is that Bootsma would gain a competitive tax advantage over competitors, paying residential instead of commercial rates. Blake Laven, the city’s planning manager, said that while the land would remain zoned residential as far as the city was concerned, the BC Assessment Branch would look at the use and put it on the commercial tax roll.
The daycare proposal returns to city council for a second public hearing on April 7.