Port Coquitlam approves PoCo Place childcare expansion to 74 spaces

Port Coquitlam council unanimously approved new zoning Tuesday evening for the Kidscool Early Learning Centre at PoCo Place Mall, allowing the not-yet-built childcare facility to serve 74 children instead of the previous cap of 50.

Two anonymous residents objected, saying a commercial lot was unsuitable for childcare and raising concerns about added noise, traffic and collision risk. Coun. Steve Darling called the centre a great idea, particularly given the limited childcare options in the Westwood area, and said it would offer parents a convenient place to drop off children before work.

The ground-floor facility is designed with four classrooms for infants and toddlers, one room for children aged three to five, and a 2,000-square-foot outdoor play area. A city staff report said the additional spaces are not expected to negatively affect neighbouring units. Eleven parking spaces will be allocated for pick-up and drop-off, while the mall has about 600 spaces overall.

In 2019, the city set a target of adding 1,449 childcare spaces by 2030. A staff report says about 970 spaces have been added, including 133 so far this year, and applications for another 188 spaces are under review.