UPDATE: Planned Parenthood Prepares for Final Decision Despite Parking Ambiguity

The City Council is the next stop for Planned Parenthood, which is pressing ahead with its application to move into an El Camino Real location.

During a seven-month application process, Planned Parenthood has withstood , , and an Rent-a-Car .

At a meeting on Sept. 12 or 19, the council is scheduled to decide whether to allow the health clinic to locate at 2980 El Camino Real or force it to search for another site.

The city’s zoning administrator on May 20. The application met all of the city’s zoning requirements, except for parking.

Planned Parenthood needed to provide proof of an adequate number of parking spots for employees, according to Zoning Administrator Blake Lyon.

He said he approved the Planned Parenthood permit because of its promise to provide sufficient parking. The City Council can uphold, reverse or modify Lyon's decision.

“The City Council has to decide if they’re comfortable moving forward without a [parking] resolution,” Lyon said.

Lyon's decision pleased Planned Parenthood.

“We’re very excited that the city is allowing us to move forward with the hearing,” said Planned Parenthood spokesperson Lupe Rodriguez.

Planned Parenthood has struck a parking agreement with Enterprise that could provide the needed space, but the organization could not provide further details about the deal. The city staff hadn’t received confirmation of the parking spaces from Enterprise, either.

Six days after the zoning administrator’s permit approval, protestors filed an appeal, citing four points of concern.

Gregory Weiler of Palmieri, Tyler, Wiener, Wilhelm & Waldron, LLP, representing 40 clients, said the clinic should not receive exemptions to certain environmental provisions. The appeal also cites moral issues, inadequate parking and police staffing concerns over inevitable protests.

Planned Parenthood is urging community members to attend the council meeting and express their support for the proposed clinic. Rodriguez said the clinic has received nothing but positive support from local residents and neighboring businesses.

“There’s nothing to protest,” Rodriguez said. “We’re providing primary health care for children and families, men and women. It’s very unfortunate that people want to harass patients while they’re getting care.”

But should the council reject the application, Rodriguez said Planned Parenthood would continue providing care for the Bay Area.

“We’d find a way,” she said.