Abortion Clinic Access Right Part Of Proposed Alexandria Zoning Change

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Alexandria City Council will consider zoning changes that seek to ease access to abortion providers in the city.

Zoning text amendments related to abortion care providers are on the agenda for Saturday's City Council meeting. The action follows a resolution from the council asking city staff to examine ways abortion services can be approved as by-right in commercial and mixed-use zones.

City staff recommends amending health care facility definitions to make medical offices or clinics with abortion services by-right. The proposed amendments revise definitions of health profession offices and medical care facilities, including abortion services in both.

The City Council's resolution seeking zoning tools to promote abortion access was approved in June 2022. The resolution was introduced by Councilmember Kirk McPike in response to the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, which reversed federal abortion protections under the 1973 Roe v. Wade case. At the time, McPike said the resolution stemmed from discussions the City Council had about reproductive health access after the Supreme Court opinion was leaked.

The resolution drew people to the meeting with signs for and against abortion access. Similarly, the City Council received comments for and against the proposed zoning text amendments.

Matthew Worner, commissioner of the Alexandria Commission for Women, wrote to the City Council in support of the amendments.

"We believe these amendments will make it clear that abortion clinics are welcome here in Alexandria, VA," wrote Worner. "The establishment of new clinics benefit our friends and neighbors throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additionally, it would benefit people living in the border states of West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina, where abortion has either been completely banned or severely restricted."

Opponents say the city should instead focus on supporting other health care providers and organizations helping women with pregnancies.

"Please consider changing your focus to help mothers and children," wrote city resident Julia McCluskey. "There are good organizations here in Alexandria that could use your support in their work to assist women with unplanned pregnancies."

Another resident opposed to abortion access referenced how anti-abortion supporters often gather outside the abortion clinic within the nearby City of Falls Church.

"I believe that if City Council brings this kind of facility to Alexandria, there will be the same kind of display of resistance to the unwholesome presence of an abortion clinic," wrote city resident Lee Ann Gardner.

There is already one abortion clinic within the City of Alexandria and another south of the city in Fairfax County's Richmond Highway corridor.

The City Council meets at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Other notable items are on the agenda, including public hearings and preliminary add/delete proposals for the city budget and proposed stormwater utility fee increase.