The Westminster City Council on Oct. 13 approved on first reading text amendments to the 2040 Comprehensive Plan that would allow private childcare businesses as "support commercial" uses within several employment land-use categories and adjust size limits for such uses.

John McConnell, planning manager, told the council the changes would allow childcare within neighborhood office, employment flex and employment office/institutional campus land uses as optional complementary uses that support employment uses. Staff also proposed increasing the allowed support-commercial share from the prior baseline to allow up to 30% of ground-floor gross floor area for support commercial uses while retaining a 15,000-square-foot cap, McConnell said.

McConnell said the change is intended to increase access to childcare near employment centers, noting childcare and employment have a "symbiotic relationship" — employers rely on childcare availability to attract and retain workers, and childcare needs arise where jobs are located. Staff estimated the amendments could potentially add an additional 7% of the city's land area as sites where childcare uses could be located.

The proposal preserves safeguards for sites in the employment/industrial land-use category by prohibiting childcare uses where incompatible industrial activities are allowed, citing noise, hazardous materials and freight-traffic conflicts as safety concerns. Planning Commission recommended approval 7-0, and the council voted 7-0 on first reading.

Council members praised staff work and framed the change as a step toward treating childcare as local infrastructure. Councilor Demott said the amendment is "a huge revolutionary first step" and described childcare as infrastructure necessary for the broader economy. Staff said additional implementation steps and incentive packages are in development and would return to council for direction.

The ordinance passed on first reading; text changes to the comprehensive plan do not re-designate land uses directly, and property-specific land-use changes would require separate review and action.

The city expects staff to return with implementation recommendations, possible cost-neutral measures and an outreach plan for employers and developers.