Prairie Avenue daycare to add 37 spots as PoCo council approves expansion

If you’re looking for daycare in Prairie Mall, you might feel like you’re seeing double.

After previously taking care of a maximum of 37 children, Dream Builders Early Learning Centre can now provide space for 74 children, following a unanimous vote from Port Coquitlam council on Sept. 24 to tweak their zoning bylaws.

The previous zoning would have allowed for a maximum of 50 children.

It’s crucial cities use zoning: “in a better way to be able to put kids in a place where they’re safe, where they can thrive,” said Coun. Steve Darling.

“We’re running out of space for childcare and daycares,” Darling said, explaining that simple tweaks around land use can lead to daycares opening in commercial spots as well as single-family homes.

Dream Builders was renovating a 2500 square foot space in the mall when they opted to expand their daycare by stretching into an adjacent commercial unit.

City staff recommended approving the rezoning, noting the city’s child care plan emphasized the need for more spaces throughout the community.

The city set a goal of adding a total of 1,449 new child care spots by 2030.

After five years, Port Coquitlam is now ahead of that target, according to the city’s director of development services Bruce Irvine.

Dream Builders is expected to accommodate 24 infants and toddlers, and 50 three-to-five-year-old children. It will also provide an on-site play area.

Carried unanimously supported the daycare expansion. Mayor Brad West did not attend the meeting.