Seattle City Council has approved a proposal that would allow childcare centers to open in neighborhoods zoned for single-family development.
The ordinance—known as ‘Childcare Near You’—was sponsored by Councilmember Dan Strauss, who hopes it will pave the way for more affordable and accessible childcare.
“Childcare touches on so many different issues: from the affordability of our city, to how equitable our neighborhoods are, to how we support working parents, and particularly working moms, who disproportionately bear the impact of our childcare shortage,” Dan Strauss said in a statement about the ordinance.”
Under the legislation, childcare centers will be a permitted use in all zones in Seattle, and dispersion requirements will be removed, allowing childcare facilities to be closer to one another. Additionally, childcare centers will be exempted from floor area limits in multifamily and commercial zones, which is meant to incentivize developers to include them in more new facilities.
Mayor Jenny Durkan is expected to sign the bill into law; to read the legislation in full, click here.
Photo: Councilmember Dan Strauss on Facebook