PRESENTER: Presenter
Christopher J. Looney, AICP, Planning and Development Services Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Public hearing and first reading of an ordinance amendment adding childcare allowances to Chapter 144 Zoning, Sec. 144-3.4-17, C-O commercial office district and Sec. 144-4.2, Land Use Matrix.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning and Development Services
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: ALL
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Case Number: ORD25-008
The city recognizes the importance of childcare service availability to city residents. To remove barriers to quality state-licensed childcare providers within city limits, staff recommends that two uses currently allowed in other districts, also be allowed in the C-O (Commercial Office District). The existing definitions in the Zoning Ordinance for these two uses are:
• Child day care/children's nursery (business) defined as a commercial children's nursery business or place designed for the care or training of unrelated children for less than 24 hours a day.
• Family home childcare also referred to as a family home (child care in place of residence) is defined as a facility that regularly provides care in the caretaker's own residence for not more than six children under 14 years of age, excluding the caretaker's own children, and that provides care after school hours for not more than six additional elementary school siblings of the other children given care. However, the number of children, including the caretaker's own, provided care at such facility shall not exceed 12 at any given time.
ISSUE:
The C-O district is a mixed-use district allowing residential, professional offices, personal services, adult day care (no overnight stay), and schools. The addition of childcare uses meets the intent of the district and is aligned with the intensity of the other uses currently allowed.
The proposed amendment will provide greater flexibility and opportunities for expanded childcare options in the community which will work toward increasing access and convenience, and reducing costs. Efforts to increase the number of properties across the city that allow childcare will benefit the local economy and support parents and caretakers who may desire to join or remain in the workforce.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REFERENCE:
The proposed amendment is supported by the following action items from Envision New Braunfels:
• Action 1.3: Encourage balanced and fiscally responsible land use patterns.
• Action 1.11: Update policies and codes to achieve development patterns that implement the goals of this plan.
• Action 3.1: Plan for healthy jobs/housing balance.
• Action 3.3: Balance commercial centers with stable neighborhoods.
• Action 3.27: Provide affordable childcare facilities.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☒Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☐Community Well-Being ☐N/A
• Look for opportunities to incentivize child development centers to increase the supply of high-quality childcare in the community that supports the local workforce.
• Increase National Citizen Survey rating of “Availability of affordable quality childcare/preschool.”
FISCAL IMPACT:
The following fiscal goals as discussed in the Land Use Fiscal Analysis will be supported by the proposed amendment:
• Prioritize infill projects that add people and buildings in areas with existing infrastructure. This will increase tax revenue without significant impacts on services and infrastructure costs, and distribute cost burdens out across more home/business owners.
• Every development or infrastructure project has the potential to either increase or close resource gaps. The proposed amendment will increase the locations where childcare services can operate and will close existing childcare resource gaps.
The Planning Commission recommended unanimous approval at the February 4, 2025 Planning Commission meeting.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Approval. This amendment will demonstrate the City’s commitment to increasing the supply of high-quality childcare in the community that supports the local workforce as outlined in the Strategic Plan and the Comprehensive Plan.