Regarding the article in the Feb. 17 issue of the Gazette, B次元官网网址�West Shore daycare strugglers for zoning approval.B次元官网网址� This is just an observation regarding Marianne Whittaker DBA Alphabet Zoo Early Learning CentreB次元官网网址檚 application to rezone their property and her dismissal of due process and apparent need to put the cart before the horse.

They knew as long ago as June or July of 2020 that their current lease was up and decided on their own to try and cram their business into an R1-zoned space.

There appears to be plenty of appropriately zoned spaces in Colwood and surrounding municipalities already that they could have chosen. TheyB次元官网网址檝e made all of this mess on their own and now theyB次元官网网址檙e feeling the pressure of time. According to former Colwood staff planner Richard Buchan, they made an initial application and then voluntarily rescinded it before re-applying a few months later.

There is a process in place to rezone a property and many factors to consider including environmental impact, adequate sewage needs, safety, and us B次元官网网址� the neighboursB次元官网网址� concerns too. It takes time to address all the concerns of stakeholders and the the city and the process shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be rushed because of their choices.

Making the changes to the property and then pressuring staff and council to go ahead and approve it because of the work already done and monies spent (all of which was their choice to do without prior approval) would set a dangerous precedent. We should be careful not to create a culture in Colwood where residents adopt a B次元官网网址渄o it first and ask for forgiveness laterB次元官网网址� attitude, thus circumventing the entire bylaw and zoning approval process. After all, thatB次元官网网址檚 why there are zoning regulations in the first place, isnB次元官网网址檛 it?

Ryan Landa

Colwood