The session, held by the Town’s administration and planning committee, saw almost a dozen area residents speak out about the plans from the Zammit family for a 20-child daycare in a home located on the west side of the road, south of Parkway Drive.

Currently the Zammits operate a small daycare on the property, with a maximum of five children allowed. They’re seeking a zoning bylaw amendment to increase the number of kids they can accommodate.

But next door neighbour Barbara Robertson doesn’t want to see the plans go ahead. She told the committee she strongly opposes the daycare proposal and cited concerns with increased traffic potentially resulting in an accident, impacts on property values and the proposed creation of 15 parking spots at the front of the property.

“I believe this is not a positive contribution to our neighbourhood,” she said. “I strongly urge you to turn down the request.”

Local resident Andrew Balahura — whose child attends the daycare — said he thinks if people in the area work with the Zammit family, they can come up with a solution to the concerns raised.

“I urge you to make the right decision here,” he said to the committee.

“There’s a significant lack of daycare in our community. The infrastructure needs haven’t kept up with demographics. If you want to keep us in this community, you have to provide the services.”

Ontario Street resident Dave Wessinger said the citizens in the area aren’t opposing the need for more daycare in Milton, but rather the location of the Zammit’s proposal.

He echoed Robertson’s concerns with traffic on the busy thoroughfare.

“The fewer people you have moving in and out of driveways onto the street, the safer it is for everyone,” he said.

He also questioned when “old Milton is going to stop paying for new Milton,” referring to the infrastructure woes and needs that’ve come with the town’s rapid growth.

But Jeremy Hyde, whose child also attends the daycare, said he thinks there’s much to be gained for the community as a whole with the expanded daycare. “I have been a resident of old and new Milton — it’s all one community.”

He and his wife, Karen, both emphasized the need for more daycare in Milton.

A few other residents went on to voice their opposition to the plans and echo concerns about traffic safety, property values and the need for daycare on Ontario Street when there are already other daycares in the area.

The committee also learned that petitions have been circulated in the community both for and against the proposal.

A couple councillors in attendance at the meeting expressed their doubts about the daycare, like Ward 2 Councillor Greg Nelson.

“The practicality of this project does not make sense to me,” he said.

He asked if the Zammits are currently operating their daycare in contravention of Town bylaws.

Town Development Review Planner Chris Lupis said that to operate a home daycare with up to five children, a person has to live at the residence. He said while the Zammits were initially unaware of the rule and didn’t live in the home, they have since moved in.

Ward 4 Councillor Wendy Schau asked why the Zammits chose the Ontario Street home for a daycare.

Julia Zammit said it’s because of the property’s opportunities for ample parking, plenty of indoor and outdoor play space and direct access to a regional road.

The committee went on to receive a report on the proposal for information purposes. Staff will now prepare a technical report with a recommendation to either approve or refuse the daycare plans. The report is expected to go before town council for consideration in February 2009.

Melanie Hennessey can be reached at mhennessey@miltoncanadianchampion.com .