We are trying to find out what is appropriate in a residential area

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that would lead to increased traffic and decreased property values. The Delaware County government provides day-care subsidies for low-income families at about 60 locations. And county officials concede that some of the state-registered centers that receive county subsidies might be operating without local zoning approval. Mary Ann Arty, Delaware County councilwoman and director of the county's Human Resources Department, said the county government did not get involved in local zoning issues and that it was the responsibility of the day-care provider to secure proper local zoning. "The county government cannot and does not tell local communities how to regulate local zoning, but, personally, I feel there is a need for both large day-care centers and home day care throughout the county." In debates before the various local government councils, some residents have advocated that all centers be located in areas already designated as commercial. However, parents with young children say they prefer to have their children cared for in a more homey atmosphere - away from heavily traveled strip centers. Local officials say they are grappling for solutions. "We are trying to find out what is appropriate in a residential area," Coll said. "Just because there is a social need for day care, and even if the state registers individuals to provide that care, that doesn't mean day-care zoning should be unregulated." To operate a legal day-care business in Lansdowne, the owner must be state- licensed and receive a special exception from local zoning regulations. The same regulations exist in most of Delaware County's other 48 municipalities. "The real problem throughout Pennsylvania and most of the country is that there is simply no zone for day care, so day care is always considered a special use," said Paul Riley, regional director for Kinder-Care, which operates day-care centers throughout the Delaware Valley. "Planners like to put day-care centers in business districts, but day-care center owners don't feel child-care businesses should be located next to auto garages in the business district, but rather located in the same setting as schools and churches, which are normally part of the residential area, not located on a busy highway." In his view, the objections raised by residents to centers in neighborhoods are unfounded. "Cars do not come and go all day long like a commercial business, but instead they come once in the morning and once in the afternoon like a school." Kinder-Care recently opened two centers in Brookhaven Borough and Aston Township. It cares for nearly 400 Delaware County children ages 6 weeks through 12 years. Jim Squadrito, owner of Kinderschool, a day-care business with three locations in Delaware County, Ridley Township, Prospect Park Borough and Chichester