Not 'business friendly' - Post #13: no more day cares

We've seen the fiasco that the convenience store licensing law has created with a federal judge ruling that Toledo cannot enforce the law until the settlement of the lawsuit over its constitutionality. Now, District 1 Councilwoman Wilma Brown wants that same type of regulations for day cares in private homes.

In order to 'research' the issue, she's got an emergency ordinance on the agenda for next Tuesday's council meeting.

Declaring a 180-day Moratorium on the authority of the Division of Building Inspection to accept applications for Special Use Permits for Type A day cares; and declaring an emergency.

SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
Toledo City Council has seen a large increase in applications for Special Use Permits for Type A day cares. Historically it has been understood that homeowners have chosen to stay home and watch children within their home. It is becoming more prevalent to have the applicant not be the person who is living in the home and to run these businesses 24 hours round the clock with three shifts and increased staff. It is not known just what effects these types of establishments have on the neighborhoods. There is a great concern that to allow a 24-hour business to operate in a residential neighborhood may be detrimental. Businesses that are located in commercial districts but abut residential have hour limitations put on them in order to preserve our neighborhoods. Therefore allowing these businesses to operate these hours seems to be adverse to previous decisions in our zoning plans.

City Council is requesting the Plan Commission to look into and research and present to Council a text amendment change that would greater restrict Type A day cares to assure greater protection to the neighborhoods. This moratorium will prevent the establishment of additional Type A day cares while this research is being undertaken. NOW, THEREFORE,

Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:

SECTION 1. That the authority of the Division of Building Inspection to accept applications for Special Use Permits for Type A day care is hereby suspended for a period of 180 days from the effective date of this Ordinance.

SECTION 2. That this Ordinance hereby is declared to be an emergency measure and shall be in force and effect from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that same is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property, and for the further reason being that a moratorium is necessary to allow the City time to review its Special Use Permit regulations for Type A day care.

Yes, this seems like an emergency to me ... and that the public peace, health and safety are certainly at risk.

According to previous statements, Councilwoman Brown doesn't like the fact that some of these day cares operate 24-hours a day. So if council regulates them out of business, where are second- and third-shift workers going to find care for their kids? Maybe they'll just have to quit their job so their neighbors aren't disturbed by their work hours.

Toledo isn't exactly a hotbed of job growth. If a family can open a business, be licensed by the state (as all day cares are) and provide an income by caring for other people's kids, isn't that the type of entrepreneurship we're desperate for? Isn't it possible that success as a neighborhood day care might lead to a growing or expanding operation? And if you've got a demand, might you also hire some friends or neighbors to help you, thus creating jobs????

I guess these council members are just overlooking these types of questions and potential outcomes. They're too busy being disturbed by the noise of some who cater to people working around the clock.

This is NOT business friendly, nor is it worker friendly. Our council members are so quick to use the phrase 'working families' in their political rhetoric. These 'working families' need day care for all three shifts and it's best if they have that option within their neighborhoods.

Council should reject this moratorium - and reject further restrictions on businesses in Toledo. If you agree, call council and let them know: 419-245-1050.