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LETTER: Change daycare regulations

Quality of life: what does that mean to you? Well, we have been living in Squamish since 1979, and we have had a good life. Worked hard, raised our kids and now we are retired.

Quality of life: what does that mean to you? Well, we have been living in Squamish since 1979, and we have had a good life. Worked hard, raised our kids and now we are retired. We are lucky, our sons and their families live in town, and we get to see our grandkids and enjoy them. We are not moving out of Squamish.

 A year ago, I wrote a letter to the editor and our council on the way they change bylaws here. To this day only one councillor has replied (stated that some decisions were made too fast) and silence from the rest.

 A reminder, our council changed the bylaw for in-home childcare, from eight to 16 children. They also changed the size of the small business from 10 per cent to 20 per cent, 200 to 400 square feet. Childcare facilities are exempted. Sixteen kids require 640 square ft as per Vancouver Coastal Health.

Now, what do you call a small business? There are commercial places in town who pay a high price to run their business with about the same room. We have had a business beside us for at least 30 years. Every owner has had a business from car repair, mobile painting service to renters and now daycare. The only one that has affected us is the daycare.

We have tried to cover up the noise by building a privacy wall. Double sided with foam insulation. Yup, noise still there. We also play our 1960s music; the decibel level is at 65-70 at eight feet on our deck. But we have had a complaint on my wall as well. By the way, 60 decibels is normal talk.

 A few months ago, it was stated by our council that they are going after the AirBnBs. Some councillors stated that the other homeowners did not buy their home to have all the traffic and such that goes with the vacation rentals. What is the difference in having a daycare with at least 25 vehicles per day in and out on a busy street? I can understand for someone to take advantage of a profitable business but what about our home and our rights. There should be some limits put into place. A daycare is a small business. Waving the max size is wrong.

I understand that daycares are a necessity. But please have some regulations that work for both the business and the neighbour.

Increase the size at our rec center for one. I am sure that there are a lot more ideas out there. I understand that a lot of our schools have daycare facilities, increase them.

I am not painting all daycares with the same brush. Some have had meetings as to how they can fit in. To them, I thank you. Others that have run daycares they have stated that 16 is too many in a small area. Some are situated, so no neighbours are affected. I have seen some that take their kids on hikes or outings. All of these actions can help so the business can go on, but it seems I have no luck in this.

I know that being retired puts a different picture on how a small business affects us but does that mean we are not allowed to retire and that we may be a minority and as such do not count. Some people have said move, but to what and where? Some say cash out. Why?  We worked hard and have gone without to achieve what we have? If I had wanted to build or buy a house near a school or daycare, I would have done so.

Tony Addis

Squamish