A contentious debate over early schooling and child care in residential neighborhoods is headed for a public hearing at today’s City Council meeting.
Councilwomen Carol Boigon and Jeanne Robb have offered dueling proposals for changing the definition of schools in the zoning code to allow younger children.
Boigon is also sponsoring a bill that would change zoning laws to allow child- care facilities in neighborhoods.
The debate is spurred by an effort from Boigon to “update the zoning code” to better match a 21st century family model.
“The truth of the matter is, 60 percent of the mothers of children under the age of 6 work,” Boigon said. “The question then becomes, ‘Do they have to have child care in the (residential zones)?’ … I don’t understand why we shouldn’t do it.”
But as part of that effort, Boigon offered an ordinance that extended the definition of schools in Denver zoning below the state regulation of first grade.
“I’m proposing we just change our zoning definition to the compulsory education rules plus anything preparatory to first grade,” Boigon said, adding that young children don’t impact neighborhoods any more than pre-kindergartners.
“I think it is a political reason for not doing infants and toddlers,” she said. “They certainly don’t increase crime or violence or noise – they nap a lot.”
Robb, however, has offered a competing bill that would only bring the age definition for Denver schools down to 3-year-olds.
“I think what Jeanne (Robb) is saying is, ‘Why are we making such radical changes when all we need to do is say, “OK, preschool”?”‘ said Nora Kimball, one of Robb’s aides. “As far as going down to six weeks of age, that increases and changes a lot of things in terms of numbers and traffic and effect on neighborhoods.”
Boigon also wants to allow child-care facilities in residential neighborhoods. More restrictive residential zones called “R-O” prohibit child-care facilities, but Boigon said some of the city’s most popular and respected child-care centers are in R-O zones.
“This is not just about poor kids, it’s not just about rich kids, this is touching everybody,” she said. “I think that we ought to allow before- and after-school care and we ought to allow early-childhood education in the R-Os, and we ought to regulate it.”
The problem has caused frustration for about a year in Congress Park, for instance, where the city issued a cease and desist order to the Denver Waldorf School after neighbors complained.
The school and neighbors are in mediation.
Still, some on the council have said the proposed changes address a small number of facilities that can be better addressed specifically.
The ordinances narrowly passed out of committee by a 4-3 vote.
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 303-820-1657 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
