A Cochrane dayhome operator is back in business after a development appeal filed to stop her from setting up shop in Riversong was withdrawn. Clair Daoude had applied for a development permit to relocate her year-old business from GlenEagles to Riversong in an effort to be in a neighbourhood that was more family and child oriented. Her plans were delayed when adjacent property owners filed a last-minute appeal citing concerns over increased traffic, noise and property devaluation. The appeal created an outpouring of community support for Daoude and her fiance, Jacques Sauve. A community petition – circulated both online and on paper – supporting the day home garnered 266 signatures. On Tuesday, just two days before the appeal hearing was scheduled, the couple received word from the planning commission that the appellants had withdrawn their application. Sauve said he and Daoude had received the appeal documents last Friday and were preparing their counter arguments for the hearing, but as of Wednesday were able to reopen the dayhome. "We're getting married in three weeks so this has lifted a dark cloud that has been hanging over our heads," said Sauve. While the couple is still out their income for the month of June, they are looking on the bright side. "The silver lining in all of this is it has definitely raised awareness," said Sauve. Both he and Daoude are hoping updates to the town's Land Use Bylaw, which is currently under review, will remove dayhomes as discretionary uses, meaning they will receive automatic approval in areas where they are in compliance with zoning. Had the appeal gone forward the process could have also taken up to another 15 days, cutting further into their income and bringing the decision very close to their wedding date. In the meantime, Daoude is grateful to be back in business and to be providing stability to the families displaced by the interruption in service, which included six children between the ages of two and six. During the interruption, she continued to provide babysitting services to two children at their homes because the family had no where else for them to go. "They have no family here and it allowed me to not only provide help for them but keep some stability in their life as well as mine," she said. "I am obviously overjoyed for my families and I wish the process would have encouraged communication between the appellants and me prior to placing an appeal which caused this interruption and worries for all involved."
