A proposed 65-space daycare on the east side of Saint John was given the green light on Monday.

City council has approved a rezoning application for land at the corner of Heather Way and Grandview Avenue.

The land, which was zoned two-unit residential, had to be rezoned to local commercial in order for the development to go ahead.

A staff report said the centre “would provide a much-needed childcare service for existing and future residents of the neighbourhood.”

During a public hearing in December, city planner Yeva Mattson said the closest daycare centres to the proposed facility are three and five kilometres away.

“These daycare centres have a capacity of about 61 spaces between them, but no available spaces this year,” said Mattson.

Mattson also noted that there are only 40 available daycare spaces currently in the city, and half are for after-school care.

There will be a separate entrance and exit for the site, both located off Heather Way. Two fenced-in play areas will be accessed directly from the building.

One of the Section 59 conditions approved by council said the development must incorporate pedestrian connections between the building and the parking lot, and between the building and the sidewalk on Heather Way.