A home at 454 Darlington Street has been given discretionary use approval to operate a child care.
“The property is zoned R-1 General Residential and contains a single-detached dwelling. The proposed Family Child Care Home is listed as a Discretionary Use in the R-1 zone and, subject to public notification requirements, Council approval is needed in order for Administration to issue a Development Permit,” explained Carleen Koroluk, Planner/Dev. Officer with the City at the regular meeting of Council Monday.
Zoning Bylaw No. 14/2003 defines a Family Child Care Home as: The principal place of residence of a family child care provider and shall further mean a provincially licensed place where the care and supervision of not less than three and not more than twelve children, (including the children of the caretaker) who do not reside on the premises, is provided for less than 24 hours per day by a person or persons other than a parent or parents of said children, for compensation.
“As the applicant intends to provide care for a maximum of twelve (12) children, the proposed use satisfies the Family Child Care Home criteria of the Zoning Bylaw,” said Koroluk.
The City did receive two letters voicing concerns about the proposed daycare, both focused on traffic and parking.
“The location has a nine metre (approx. 30 foot) wide front driveway which will accommodate vehicles for child drop-off and pick-up and mitigating concerns from current and future neighbouring residents,” said Koroluk.
“In addition a fully fenced back yard complies with provincial requirements for a safe play area for the children and satisfactory City of Yorkton Fire Protective Services and Building Service inspections have been received.”
In terms of traffic, Koroluk said concerns are not isolated to the area around the proposed daycare.
“Traffic flow and speed enforcement is a concern not only in areas where child care is provided, but in all areas of the city. Further to council resolution at the September 26 meeting, the Planning and Infrastructure Commission (PIC) reviewed signage requirements for Family Child Care Homes at their Oct 5, meeting,” she said.
The application was referred to PIC at their October 5, 2016 meeting. The Commission recommends approval of the application, said Koroluk.
Council while approving of the discretionary use did ask Administration to bring a report on traffic issues in the areas of schools and parks back to a future meeting of Council.
