PoCo council reverses previous decision, approves Grant Avenue daycare

They may not have changed their minds, but most of Port Coquitlam council changed their votes.

Two weeks after council voted 5-1 to reject a 65-space Grant Avenue childcare facility, Mayor Brad West used his authority as mayor to have the matter reconsidered.

West, who was absent from the decisive vote, emphasized that while public hearings might be important, they are not necessarily decisive.

“Publics hearings should not be intended in any way, shape or form to be representative of broad public opinion in Port Coquitlam.”

In a lengthy speech, West noted both the “great need” for childcare as well as city policy encouraging childcare centres in residential neighbourhoods.

During the public hearing, neighbours voiced a series of criticisms, including increased noise, depressed property values, roving wildlife and “unfamiliar individuals” threatening neighbourhood safety.

“There were, I think, comments that have no basis in reality or any factual underpinning to them,” West said.

There is no connection between proximity to a daycare and a decrease of property value, West said before turning his comments to the crux of the matter: parking concerns.

The street regularly teems with cars but lacks sidewalks, creating an unsafe and unsuitable spot for a childcare, neighbours contended.

It’s critical the city examine the root of that problem, West said.

“Those are issues that may have to do with the number of suites, both legal and illegal, that are present on Grant Avenue,” he said.

A quick google search also turned up some home-based businesses on the street, he continued.

“I’m not aware of whether all of those are permitted and licensed businesses or not, but certainly the existence of an auto repair business on Grant Avenue will have an impact on parking,” he said.

West moved to bring the motion back with a caveat: city staff is now tasked with addressing safety and traffic concerns on Grant Avenue.

“If we are of the opinion that this street is so unsafe that it cannot have a daycare on site, than we have a much bigger problem,” West concluded.

Coun. Dean Washington remained unconvinced.

Washington said he wouldn’t expect many parents to walk to the facility and wasn’t convinced that drop-offs and pick-ups would be staggered.

City staff could work with the applicant to find an offsite alternative for childcare staff parking and reserving the front area for pick-ups and drop-offs. The applicant is also on the hook for between $80,000 to $100,000 for improvements to the road.

That money would “get you about 12 feet of laneway paved,” Washington said.

Coun. Paige Petriw thanked West for articulating the concerns about the childcare.

“Sometimes you just need a little bit more information, a little bit more time to process,” she said.

The drop-off issue remains critical, said Coun. Steve Darling.

“There’s some challenges there. Can we overcome the challenges? From what I’m hearing, I think we can,” he said.

Petriw, Darling, and Couns. Nancy McCurrach and Darrell Penner each changed their vote.

Coun. Glenn Pollock was the only member of council who previously supported the proposal.

The amendment to the previous motion, which included having staff investigate traffic and parking concerns, passed 6-1 with Washington opposed. The main motion passed unanimously.

Following the vote, West reminded the crowd that Port Coquitlam, like all cities in Metro Vancouver, is experiencing growth that will impact every single neighbourhood.

“I can promise you this is not the last time the city will be faced with this,” he said.