How 9 people at a public hearing stopped a new child-care centre in Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Residents cited parking, safety issues — but also property values and children running into bears
It had passed first and second readings of council, with the only major concerns raised being around the architecture and esthetics of the proposal.
But when it came time for the six councillors of Port Coquitlam, B.C., to give third and final approval to a child-care facility with space for 65 kids, five of them cited the public hearing immediately beforehand as part of the reason they voted no.
"When you see this many people come out and they're this passionate and their concerns are so loud, it's hard to just blow past them," said Coun. Paige Petriw, as she voted against rezoning 1948 Grant Ave.
"We have not had that many people out at a public hearing for quite a long time and I think that says a lot about what is taking place," said Coun. Darrell Penner.
Coun. Nancy McCurrach was even more emphatic.
"When that many people come together, I'm going to listen to them. So I won't be supporting this," she said.
In total, nine members of the public showed up to speak before the Oct. 10 vote. None were in support.
Parking, property values — and bears
The concerns from residents who showed up generally centred around parking and noise for a residential three-block street in the middle of Port Coquitlam that has no sidewalks.
"Imagine 65 parents dropping off and picking up their kids with their cars throughout the day. It's just going to be complete chaos," said Manraj Buller, who lives a few houses down from the property.
"Zoning bylaws exist so residents can be protected from institutions such as these intruding into our residential neighbourhoods."
Several people also argued it was a poor fit because the nearest playground was a few blocks away and required crossing a busy street.
But four of the nine people who spoke against the project explicitly brought up the potential of decreased property values as a reason for their opposition.
Another person brought up wildlife in the area as a concern.
"There are bears scavenging for food," said the speaker, who did not provide his name. He described it as "a safety issue."
While he voted no, Penner said some of the concerns were unfounded.
"I don't believe property values are going to drop. I don't believe the bears are going to eat the children," he said.
'Look at the bigger picture'
Mayor Brad West was not at the council meeting due a municipal conference in Australia, but told CBC News he supported the application at first and second readings "because while every application has pros and cons, I felt the application would be a positive addition."
Steve Darling and Dean Washington were the two other councillors who voted against the proposal.
The only one to vote in favour, Glenn Pollock, said he didn't want "to throw the rest of council under the bus," but critiqued the public hearing process and councillors switching their votes as a result.
"They have the ability to get there and make their comments but I think you have to look at the bigger picture at the end of the day," he said.
"My concern is that if every time we try to do [a child-care centre] in a residential neighbourhood and we listen to the nine people that show up to the mic, we won't end up having real neighbourhoods."
As for the child-care operator behind the proposal, which runs three other facilities in Metro Vancouver for more than 100 children?
Little Warriors founder Amar Kallu said the company would continue to work with Port Coquitlam to try to find another site in the municipality that could work.
But he was critical of a process where staff didn't consult with the community in the months of work leading up to the public hearing — only for councillors to then cite the concerns of nine residents as a reason for rejecting the project.
"It definitely caught me by surprise," he said.
"Maybe if we had a public information session or something along those lines, it would have helped … there are parents within the community that definitely need [the facility]."
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