Tina Bootsma is using kiddies of Penticton as a scapegoat on social media and the local papers asking the public to support her 20-plus children daycare (Penticton Western News, Feb.5, New daycare delayed).
This business woman of 25 years owns other daycares in Penticton and is wanting people in Penticton to come forward and vote for her ‘daycare major’ which she dumped on a quiet neighbourhood in the south of town, changing a residential area to commercial. I don’t believe this is a basement daycare. This is a major business where nobody would be living in the building and the back lawn would be torn out for staff parking.
My question is this, did she go door to door and ask the neighbours if they would be OK with a major daycare? Did she even care? Did the realtor who sold her this property within three weeks of listing, who knew of her intentions, inform the neighbours? Do you think the property value of the neighbours’ homes will be the same if they choose to move?
Who wants to live next door to a childrens daycare where cars will be coming and going all day, all year long? Could she not have picked a property that was centrally located?
Many of the locals have lived in this area for over 40 years and love it here. They didn’t buy their properties with a major daycare next door. The business was dumped on them after the fact, unknowlingly. When she bought her home, did she buy it next to a noisy daycare? Probably not. Is she seeing the neighbours’ concerns or only her pocketbook?
This proposal has been delayed for 60 days before council will come to a decision. Please drive by 96 Yorkton Ave. and see why the long-term residents and new homeowners of the Yorkton and Lee area of Penticton are upset.
Leisa Pinch
Penticton