Port Coquitlam council approves rezoning for new daycare facility, doubling the amount of allowable childcare space

An incoming Port Coquitlam daycare will now have twice the amount of childcare space available, after city council unanimously approved a rezoning application to expand the number of allowable children on Sept. 3.

Dream Builders Early Learning Centre was in the process of renovating a 2500 sq. ft. space in Prairie Mall, but decided to expand their facility plans by incorporating an adjacent commercial unit.

This would allow the operators to provide space for 74 children, rather than the original 37.

“This is going to be great,” said Coun. Nancy McCurrach. “It’s going to increase what we desperately need in out city.”

Rezoning is required as the city’s official community plan currently allows child care facilities to hold a maximum of 50 children in multi-tenant commercial buildings.

Staff recommended approving rezoning, noting the 2020 Child Care Action Plan stresses the need for more child care spaces throughout the community, especially for infants, toddlers and school-aged children.

The plan calls for creating around 145 new spaces annually until 2030. By the end of 2023, 583 new spaces had been created; so far in 2024 there has been a net loss of 12 spaces, though 157 are under construction.

With the rezoning now in place, Dream Builders’ facility will be able to accommodate 24 infants and toddlers, and 50 three-to-five-year-old children. It will also provide an on-site play area.

Staff also note the city’s Child Care Policy framework allows for considerations regarding larger childcare facilities in residential and commercial zones, specifically in commercial and mixed use settings where adequate parking, pick-up/drop-off and outdoor play space is available.

Staff described the location as being “highly suitable for a larger child care facility use.”

Prairie Mall enjoys good accessibility, serves an area with an increasing amount of children, is flanked to the south and west by low and medium density residential buildings and is in close proximity to schools and municipal facilities (including Hyde Creek Recreation Centre), according to staff.

They note that three bus routes serve the northside centre commercial area, including stops on Coast Meridian Road and Prairie Avenue, adding the latter street also has a multi-use path.

Prairie Mall has 197 surface parking stalls for its commercial tenants, which exceeds the parking requirements needed to accommodate the facility.

Fraser Health has already approved a childcare license for the first phase of facility, which is expected to open on Sept. 3, staff said.

The second phase for the new expansion still requires a building permit, and will likely be complete within a year.