MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Mt. Juliet Planning Commission unanimously gave its approval to a measure that would require health clinics that offer abortions to be zoned as industrial.
The measure came weeks after Carafem Health Center, a women's clinic that provides several services including selling abortion pills, opened its doors in Mt. Juliet.
Shortly after it opened, city commissioners proposed an ordinance requiring clinics that provide surgical abortions to be zoned as industrial. The Carafem Health Center building is currently zoned as commercial. Carafem did not perform surgical abortions as of Thursday, but the companies website indicated it eventually planned to bring surgical abortions to the clinic. The ordinance would stop that.
On Thursday, the proposal was met with little fanfare and no debate. The measure was included in the planning commission's consent agenda, which bundled the vote with several other actions.
Carefem was not at Thursday's meeting, but previously released a statement that read, in part: "With one in four women in the U.S. that will choose to have an abortion before the age of 45, carafem remains committed to ensuring that she has access to a safe, affordable medical care. We are proud to continue our mission to allow a woman to decide when and if she is ready to become a parent. Our doors remain open to serve clients in Mount Juliet.”
The ordinance now goes back to the board of commissioners for approval.
