Day care, farmers market approved for Val Caron

A developer in Valley East is moving ahead with plans to redevelop his property to include a recreation centre, day care centre and a farmer’s open air market.

Peter Churan, who redeveloped a former Val Caron elementary school into the Sure Inn, wants to take advantage of remaining space in the school to include the new uses.

While staff recommended approval of the rezoning, Churan took issue with a part of the report requiring him to get an environmental assessment done before he proceeds with the daycare. It would add about $50,000 to his costs, he said.

“I'm not willing to pay the bill,” he told members of the planning committee Monday. “I've already spent $100,000 on paperwork.”

Churan said the assessment was a result of his original rezoning of the property to allow the inn. But he said that part of the former school hasn't been used since he bought the property and no commercial activities took place there. If the area was OK for students when it was a school, why does he have to pay for an environmental assessment now?

“I trusted the school was healthy and it was a safe environment for the kids to be there,” Churan said.

Ward 5 Coun. Bob Kirwan said the spaces are needed in the Valley and wondered whether the assessment was really required.

“His daughter would like to open a daycare,” Kirwan said.

Guido Mazza, the city's top building official, said the assessment was included because the province normally requires it when a commercial property is being rezoned for uses such as a daycare.

“We erred on the side of caution to alert the owner,” Mazza said. “But we're prepared to work with the proponent.”

Churan's daughter, Rebecca, who would operate the centre, said the assessment wasn't needed because the province would have to approve the site before it could open.

“The Ministry of Education has to do their inspection, regardless,” she said. “So we still have to go through more red tape.”

In the end, staff agreed to drop the requirement for the assessment and approved the rezoning.

The seasonal farmers market would operate outside in the rear yard on the southern end of the property.