Re: Penticton Western News letters to the editor, March 25, There is a point to zoning and bylaws.
I question when this letter was written as I did address many of the issues that were questioned in this letter at our information session on Thursday, March 19. Firstly, I did not say that I needed a minimum of 20 children to make the business profitable. I did say that I could not do a centre of only eight children because the overhead costs would be too high. I did not choose to forego rezoning to commercial zoning to gain tax benefits but to ensure neighbours that all that would ever be allowed at this residence would be a childcare centre not any other business such as a Walmart, pub, or other commercial facilities which would have been allowed if I had rezoned to a commercial zoning.
The trash issue has also been addressed, children bring their own lunches with reusable containers and no dumpster will be on the property. Also, I do know that there are some young families living in the neighbourhood of this proposed centre and will be in the new 50 townhouses being built 1/2 block for 96 Yorkton Ave. on Wilson Street. Parking was also addresses at the information meeting, there are two spots in the back, one at the side of the house and a large driveway in the front of the house for parent drop-off and pick up.
Children will only be at the centre for 10 hours per day not 16 hours, as this is not allowed by B.C. Childcare Licensing Regulations.
I purchased the property in October of 2014, not in May and due to the election of new council the rezoning was not addressed until January at which time neighbours were sent letters and a sign was displayed and notices went into the paper. This is standard practice through the Penticton City Planning Department.
Finally and lastly, if this was a childcare centre for only eight children I believe that the neighbours would still object. The concerned residents told me many times that they believe I operate a very well run centre and that this wasn’t the issue. I disagree, it makes a very big difference how the centre is run. When childcare centres have quality staff and a program that keeps children busy and happy there will not be any “noises” that would be bothersome to a neighbourhood! There would only be the sounds of happy children at play.
I think some of us have forgotten what that sounds like. Also, I would like to say that I own a house on Yorkton Avenue, it is #96.
Tina Bootsma and Richard Warren
Penticton