Raleigh denies anti-abortion group's request to rezone
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The Raleigh City Council has rejected an anti-abortion group's request to move next door to an abortion clinic.
The city council voted unanimously Tuesday to reject the request by A Hand of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center to conduct operations out of a residence next to Preferred Women's Health Center.
Preferred Women's Health Center has been at 1604 Jones Franklin Road in Raleigh since 1997. There have been a number of protests throughout the years.
Staff members have said they are concerned the potential new neighbor could bring more violence.
A Hand of Hope said it wanted to draw more clients and save money by rezoning the property and was looking to set up shop at 1502 Jones Franklin Road. The non-profit is a conservative, Christian organization. Hand of Hope is already working in the area, less than half a mile away.
The abortion clinic had argued that the move would have brought harassment and scrutiny to its patients and staff.
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The city council rejected the request, citing a city rezoning code which states that only residential uses are allowed on the property.
