City to consider zoning changes for childcare centers

Council approves $137K for Liberty Park upgrades

  The City Council voted to hold a public hearing on April 24 for a proposed zoning amendment that would ease the rules for childcare providers in Revere. Tom Skwierawski, the city’s director of Planning and Community Development, explained to councillors that the need for more affordable and accessible childcare emerged in a 2021 Workforce Development plan. Planning and Community Development staff worked with an advisory committee that held community meetings and determined that a zoning amendment that would align zoning regulations closer to state regulations would be a major step forward.

  Under the current zoning regulations, local childcare centers are capped at four children per site and require a special permit from the City Council. The changes proposed by the Planning and Development department would increase the number of children to 10 per site although centers with seven or more children would require a certified childcare assistant employed by the center. Also, childcare centers would be able to open and operate by right in 12 of the city’s 19 zoning districts.

  Councillor-at-Large Marc Silvestri also pointed out that current zoning requires a parking space for every child that attends a childcare facility. “That really blew my mind because I’m not sure how many of them are driving to a childcare center to be taken care of,” said Silvestri.

  Skwierawski said proposals for zoning amendments must be presented with a petition signed by 10 registered voters. He brought the council a petition with 100 signatures. “This really was a community project that we led, but it had the support of the community,’ said Skwierawski.

In other council news…

  The City Council unanimously approved spending $137,000 from the Community Improvement Trust Fund to upgrade Liberty Park in Ward 6.

  CFO Richard Viscay said the money was the city’s share of a matching grant from the state PARC program, which was created to help communities acquire and renovate parks and recreational facilities. The total cost of the Liberty Park makeover will be $500,000.

  Viscay said the money will cover the removal of old, outdated playground equipment, removal of asphalt and mulch and the installation of new equipment, a pickleball court, a gaga pit, safety equipment and new seating.

  “Liberty park is tucked into the neighborhood in a safe, confined area,” said Ward 6 Councillor Richard Serino who added the Planning Department worked with the neighborhood on the redesign.