WESTLOCK — The Westlock Child Care Society has been given the green light to expand and open a second location at the Rotary Spirit Centre (RSC) this summer following passage of an amendment to the Town of Westlock’s land-use bylaw.
At the March 27 regular council meeting, councillors unanimously passed second and third reading of consolidated Land Use Bylaw 2022-12, Amendment Bylaw 2023-03, following a review and background information by planning and development officer Danielle Pougher. The amendment adds child-care facility as a permitted use in the parks and recreation district, which allows the town to approve the conversion of the space from its current use as Kali’s Korner to a licensed daycare.
Prior to second reading, a public hearing was held and no submissions or concerns were received.
“The purpose of this amendment is to facilitate the expansion of childcare spaces in Westlock with the opening of a provincially licensed child-care facility in the Rotary Spirit Centre, in partnership with the Westlock Childcare Society,” said Pougher.
The RSC is currently districted as parks and recreation (PR) and a child-care facility is neither a permitted nor discretionary use in the PR district.
“This means that we would not currently be able to approve the conversion of the space from its current use as Kali’s Korner to a licensed child-care facility,” she said, noting that by adding it as a permitted use will allow the town to approve the change of use for the space.
The WCCS and town formed a partnership earlier this year and an open house in February informed residents of the plans.
The current play space will undergo renovations later this year to transform it into a commercial daycare space, while a new Kali’s Korner will be created between the arena and the main entrance of the RSC. The expansion is expected to provide up to 41 additional daycare spaces.
