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REGULAR MEETING April 9, 2018
<br /> care outside of that, anybody who comes into Memorial that doesn't have a doctor that is pregnant,
<br /> we end up serving through that program. We see the good and the bad starts to pregnancy. A large
<br /> number of the women we see coming in have been to the Women's Care Center,have gotten early
<br /> advice and an early ultrasound that helps us know when their due date is. That can be really
<br /> valuable in managing complications at the end of the pregnancy. Knowing within a few weeks
<br /> isn't good enough a lot of times. How we manage a woman who is facing those complications is
<br /> benefitted by having that early ultrasound. Unfortunately too often we have women coming in late
<br /> for pre-natal care and we don't have any information. They haven't started on their pre-natal
<br /> vitamins and they have done things that are detrimental to their own health and, as a consequence,
<br /> the baby suffers too. So the Women's Care Center provides a really valuable service. One (1) of
<br /> the underserved areas is exactly in this proposed region and so I think this new location will
<br /> provide better access for a number of women who aren't willing to make the trek. I see that as an
<br /> incredibly positive step forward. It is a pleasure to be associated with an organization like this and
<br /> I urge your support.
<br /> Anna Trinidad, 234 S. Chapin Street, South Bend, IN, stated, I would hope you all consider the
<br /> fact that we are a smaller Center right now. We are the smallest of the three(3) South Bend offices.
<br /> We are bursting at the seams already. We do have two of the same classes on Fridays because we
<br /> cannot accommodate that many people at the same time. I also want to share the fact that by
<br /> moving to this area, we are closer to the Washington High School area which does also serve
<br /> Lafayette and the Equity Parenting Program. We would then be able to work in collaboration with
<br /> them to help our young mothers complete their high school education and make a plan in furthering
<br /> their education to complete college by setting realistic goals that we can guide them through. I
<br /> think moving there would benefit teen moms and young moms. I think by expanding we can serve
<br /> more people and not have to duplicate services.
<br /> Beverly Horton, 360 N. Notre Dame Avenue, South Bend, IN, stated, I have had the privilege to
<br /> serve the Women's Care Center for over sixteen (16) years and I have seen women come that
<br /> didn't have supplies such as car seats, strollers and diapers for their babies. I believe that as our
<br /> families grow, we need to grow. By moving to a different location, we can accommodate our
<br /> families that have grown. I believe that will be a great asset to our community.
<br /> Mary Bruinsma, 3116 Weist Lane, South Bend, IN, stated, I have also been an employee of the
<br /> Women's Care Center for over thirteen (13) years and just in listening to all this debate about the
<br /> zoning, I want to keep my comment on just that. The one (1) thing I didn't hear specifically
<br /> mentioned is,and I don't know a lot about zoning details but in terms of my experience of working
<br /> with women at Women's Care Center and in terms of being located next to Whole Women's
<br /> Health, what I have seen in the past when I have worked at a Women's Care Center located next
<br /> to an abortion clinic,there are many situations where a woman goes into an abortion clinic and she
<br /> is very conflicted about her decision. I would like to just please consider the importance of having
<br /> that option nearby and in this case it would be next door. I have personally witnessed the beautiful
<br /> transformation of what happens when a women, who feels like abortion is her only option, is
<br /> presented with the possibility of other options along with the continued support to enable the thing
<br /> that maybe her heart really wants to do but feels like she can't. In relation to the zoning issue, I
<br /> would support the Women's Care Center being located in the vicinity of the proposed abortion
<br /> clinic. I just want to tell you that I have witnessed beautiful transformations of women who have
<br /> chosen to continue their pregnancy. I have seen their lives grow and blossom into beautiful young
<br /> women and mothers. They grow in many areas that we were able to open doors into. We provide
<br /> the supplies they need and they come back very happy with the choice they make. I want to thank
<br /> you for considering that point of view. Thank you.
<br /> Chuck Freeby,2233 Cross Creek Court, South Bend, IN, stated,My wife,Dianne,and I have been
<br /> affiliated with Women's Care Center now for twenty-three (23) years. In those twenty-three (23)
<br /> years, I have never seen protest at a facility. I realize as a journalist you're not supposed to take a
<br /> side and I try to do that in my professional life. As a civilian, I have to take a side on this because
<br /> as I look at your rezoning criteria, while I'm not privy to the comprehensive plan, I look at current
<br /> conditions and the character of the current structure and I see an improvement that will be made
<br /> with what Women's Care Center has in its architectural plan. It is a nice transition from the
<br /> commercial to the residential area.The conversation of property values throughout the jurisdiction,
<br /> I look at the property values of the places that Women's Care Center has taken over already and
<br /> have seen them increase. As to responsible development and growth, basically, it follows from
<br /> points two (2),three (3) and four (4). So if we are talking about this as a purely rezoning aspect, I
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