PC 02/12/97 - Laserfiche WebLink

b. UP-96-79. Michael Bleecker. M.D./Tri.Vallev Ob/Gvn Application for a conditional use permit to operate a birthing center in an existing structure located at 4583 Second Street. Zoning for the property is RM-4 (Mnltiple-Family Residential) District. Mr. Iserson presented the staff report on the application for a conditional use permit to allow a birthing center to be located within an existing residence at 4583 Second Street. The site is located within a RM-4,OOO (Multiple Family Residential - 4,000 sq. ft. per Dwelling Unit) District. The conditional use permit would also allow prenatal and postpartum examinations for those women who deliver their children at the Center. Conditionally permitted uses for this zoning classification include hospitals. Across second street, the zoning is single family zoning. A neighborhood meeting was held on January 9th to identify neighborhood issues and concerns. The single-story, 100-year-old home, with a detached single car garage is located on the corner. There is a mixed use on Second Street--multi-family homes and single family homes. The east side of Second Street is zoned R-l (single-family homes). It is intended that this facility will be an alternative in birthing services to women who are considered "low risk," a middle-step between a hospital birth and a home birth. The applicant estimates there to be between five and ten births at the facility per month and approximately eight hours per week for prenatal and postpartum exams for the women utilizing the Center. The women would come to the Center at the onset of labor, stay there through the birth and up to 6-8 hours after the birth. Other family members would be able to attend the birth as well, but not more than three visitors. Birthing classes were an identified use, but after hearing the concerns of the neighborhood, they are no longer part of this application. There would be two staff members in attendance at anyone time-- a nurse, Dr. Bleecker or a midwife. A number of strong concerns were expressed in the residential meeting centering around this use in a residential neighborhood, parking, noise from laboring patients, slamming car doors, loss of property value, character of the neighborhood, whether there was a need for this facility, whether abortions would be performed, disposal of waste materials, potential ambulances if complications arose. Some residents did express support who live in the neighborhood, feeling that the scale of operation is acceptable. It is staff's determination that the birthing center is close in characterization to a hospital, a conditionally permitted use. Another concern raised by the residents is whether this part of Second Street should be zoned Multiple Family and whether a birthing center would therefore be allowed. Staff has been aware that the zoning on this side of Second Street has been problematic. Mr. Iserson discussed the options that staff may be able to implement to bring the zoning into consistency. Staff does not see the application as being a deviation from the uses allowed in the Code or in the General Plan. Under the present General Plan, there is no ability for commercial/office/retail uses to come into the neighborhood. This application is one of the few uses that could come into the neighborhood other than residential. Staff does not feel that there would be a precedence set that would undermine the character of the neighborhood. Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 February 12, 1997