SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane City Council voted unanimously Monday to make it easier and cheaper for daycare facilities to open in residential neighborhoods.
The 7-0 vote removes regulatory hurdles that childcare providers previously faced when trying to establish facilities in residential areas. City officials say the change will bring more daycare options directly to neighborhoods where families live.
“Anything that we can do to help families out needs to be done in this city,” said one supporter of the measure.
The streamlined process addresses the ongoing childcare shortage by expanding where facilities can operate.
“How we solve this is by expanding our range of options to where we can locate these facilities, it’s similar to our housing crisis, whereas you expand the range, the range of options and look at our zoning it’s going to open up more opportunities,” a council member said.
The ordinance implements requirements from a statewide bill signed into law in July. That legislation requires cities across Washington to allow daycares in almost all zoning types.
According to Childcare Aware of Washington, the number of family childcare providers in the state has dropped by 20 percent over the last five years.
The change takes effect immediately, giving daycare operators a clearer path to establishing facilities throughout Spokane’s residential areas.
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