City Council has approved a city-wide review of parking, pick-up and drop-off requirements for daycares after a committee approved changes that could bring two new childcare facilities to downtown Brampton despite concerns from locals.

The two proposed daycares still need to go through final approvals, but developers were granted a minor variance adjustment to allow for childcare centres to go in on Chapel Street and Mill Street even though the area isn’t zoned for daycares.

And even though local residents who spoke at a committee meeting said they’re not opposed to daycare opening downtown, they said the proposed sites could pose traffic and safety concerns.

Residents again raised concerns to council on Wednesday, leading to council approving a city-wide review of daycares, including “minimum parking and pick-up and drop-off requirements.”

The study is expected to cost between $40,000 to $75,000, and isn’t anticipated to impact any daycares in development or current proposals.

A report says the city has “limited tools” beyond land use planning controls for daycares “as these facilities are regulated by the province.”

City council doesn’t have the authority to overturn the Committee of Adjustment decision that would allow for the Chapel Street and Mill Street projects to go head. The project applications still need to clear the city’s Planning and Development Committtee, and a motion passed by council on Wednesday will see local councillors updated on the applications before final approval.

One of the projects is a proposed daycare that will be an addition to a historic building on Chapel Street with capacity for around 60 children, and Peel Region has already secured just under $700,000 in funds  through the province’s Early Learning and Childcare Program – funds that would be returned to the province if the project isn’t built.

City staff have been instructed to launch a land use study that will take until in 2027 to complete, and report back on any “short- and/or medium
term land use control option(s).”

The region says downtown Brampton is one of seven areas identified “as a priority” for additional childcare options. Child-care wait lists have ballooned across Ontario since the province signed on to the national $10-a-day program, as demand due to the lower fees appears to be far outpacing the creation of new spaces in many regions.

The region says there are around 2,000 childcare spaces in Brampton, with plans to add another 1,200 by the end of the year.


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