A new child care centre in Takhini North could be up for council's consideration yet again, sooner than a year after it turned down a zoning amendment that would have allowed it to go ahead then.

Last July, council defeated the zoning amendment to permit a child care centre (which is allowed up to 12 children) in a home at 75 Ortona Rd. amid concerns over the size of the property (which is fewer than the 930 square metres normally required for a child care centre), parking and other concerns expressed by neighbours.

Close to a year later and following an October municipal election that saw new councillors Ranj Pillai and Betty Irwin join returning council members, Pillai gave notice at Monday's council meeting that he will bring the issue back to be reconsidered at the July 27 council meeting.

As Pillai explained in an interview following the meeting, he was contacted by proponent Leet Mueller to see if council would reconsider it.

Along with Mueller, Pillai was provided with a number of letters and e-mails from neighbours who have since changed their minds about it and now support Mueller's plan, provided some conditions are met.

"There's definitely stipulations there,” Pillai said of the support, noting there will have to be a discussion about how to deal with the concerns.

The city, for example, has the ability to regulate the number of children in a child care centre, but not the age. One of the potential supporters, Pillai said, wants the centre to have children who are three years old and younger.

Another is concerned about vehicles idling in the area when parents are dropping off or picking up their kids.

While the city has posted signs in areas aimed at encouraging residents not to idle their vehicles, it would be "impossible for the city to regulate,” Pillai said.

In the month or so before the issue returns to council chambers for discussion, he plans to talk to those in the neighbourhood and look at how the issues can be dealt with.

He pointed out that last year when Mueller proposed her plan to the city, she was still new to the neighbourhood and many there didn't know her well.

Since then, she has operated a day home – which allows Mueller to provide child care service to fewer children than a child care centre – successfully, giving neighbours an opportunity to see a smaller operation in action.

Along with Mueller's request and the newfound support of nearby residents, the city's sustainability plan also convinced Pillai to bring the matter back to council, he said.

The plan calls for city neighbourhoods, like Takhini North, to feature more mixed-use development, enabling residents to use services closer to home rather than driving out of the area to get to businesses.

Pillai noted Meller's proposal fits with the plan, especially given that there is only one other day care in the neighbourhood, which provides care to children ages three and up.

There's no child care centre for children there under the age of three, he said. This could provide a new service for parents in the neighbourhood looking for child care close to home, he added.

With Mayor Bev Buckway absent from Monday's council meeting, Coun. Doug Graham served as acting mayor.