Neighbors of the recently opened Dr. Herbert C. Jones Reproductive Health and Education Center, a Planned Parenthood facility on Hydraulic Road, have greeted the new facility with mixed reactions.
"Some neighbors are concerned about Planned Parenthood, some are delighted," said David Nova, president of Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge. "We have received flowers, contributions and calls of good wishes from neighbors, and some of those neighbors are patients. There are other neighbors who are upset."
Renae Townsend is one concerned neighbor, who has appealed the Albemarle County Zoning Administration's decision to grant Planned Parenthood the "special use permit" that allowed it to open its doors Aug. 3.
The building was re-zoned in 2000 for office use. When Planned Parenthood bought the building from an insurance company in 2003, they were not required to go through the same zoning process as long as the building's operations could still be defined as office use.
The new facility provides a full range of reproductive health care and family planning services, as well as community education.
"We provide on-site adoption and abortion services and in 2005 we hope to begin providing prenatal care services," Nova said. "We will be only the second facility in the nation to offer all pregnancy options under one roof. I see it as a truly pro-choice clinic, making all choices accessible to women."
Some community members and pro-life groups are now concerned that Planned Parenthood's use of the building exceeds office use, citing that Planned Parenthood will perform abortions at the facility and has defined it as a hospital in their newsletter.
"This is completely outside of what they were approved for by the county," said Tobey M. Bouch, a board member of the local Central Virginia Family Forum. "Had Planned Parenthood gone through the zoning process there would have been more public awareness and the public would have been able to voice concerns."
Townsend became involved in the effort to appeal the building's permit after members of the Forum petitioned the facility in her neighborhood in April.
"The zoning issue concerns us," Bouch said. "There are people involved now who are not just pro-life. They think the facility shouldn't be there because it doesn't fit the community or the use of the building."
However, community members opposed to the current facility still may be willing to accept its presence if Planned Parenthood can comply with the original zoning parameters set in 2000.
"If they were complying with the approved use of the building, there would be no problem," Bouch said.
In the meantime, those opposed to the facility see the involvement of neighbors in the effort to check Planned Parenthood's use of the building as an effective way to force change.
"The appeal could have come from someone else from across town who opposed the facility, but it wouldn't have carried the same weight," Bouch said. Townsend "is directly affected. Her property values will be affected. She will have to deal with the protests."
Townsend filed her appeal on Aug. 26. According to county code, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors has 60 days from the file date to make a decision on the appeal.
Nevertheless, Planned Parenthood plans to continue business as usual.
"There is a group that is seeking to revoke our certificate of occupancy and force us to close our doors," Nova said. "We are confident that we will continue to provide comprehensive medical and educational services to U.Va. and the surrounding community."
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