Thank you for allowing me to speak today. My name is David Heilbronner. I am a physician, practicing and living in Charlottesville, and the father of two teenage daughters. I first moved to Charlottesville in 1955, and have lived in both the City and County over the years with time away for school, residency and fellowship. So I come here today as a professional and a resident and not as an outside "ringer" with no direct involvement in the community.

As you know, Planned Parenthood was founded to provide comprehensive family planning services. The key word here is COMPREHENSIVE. Sadly, it is one small area of these comprehensive services which has become the flash point for emotional and, all too frequent, violent outbursts.

I am not here to speak on this isolated issue, however. It is critical to maintain, within our community, the ability for women of all ages, races, marital status, educational and economic levels to receive the care and health information they desire and deserve.

Ironically, in this current debate, I have heard the comments "would you want a place like this near a school" and "what kind of message does this send to our children".

Since when is a facility, which provides health education, contrary to the goals of a school and community. It is only with education and a learned understanding of ALL ramifications of sexual activity and family planning that the single volatile issue of abortion services which, I think, has forced this hearing, can be avoided.

There are those who feel the building should have been zoned a hospital. Granted, among the services provided at the Jones Center are medical procedures. However, many of the offices around town and the county perform medical procedures, ranging from tooth extractions and oral surgery, to the excision of skin lesions, carpal tunnel releases, and colonoscopies. The list could go on and on. If it is ruled that the Jones Center must close or move, the same must be done to those medical and dental offices in which such procedures are performed.

Obviously, in the 49 years since I first arrived here, there has been tremendous change. The planning commissions and zoning boards of the city and county have worked hard to maintain some semblance of continuity and reason to the growth and development of the area.

Regarding the present discussion, all legal aspects of the application and building process were appropriately followed by Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge. This included notification to the neighbors, and completion of appropriate permits and applications. It is certainly no secret as to what Planned Parenthood's goals and services are. As a result, this request for reconsideration should be denied.

Thank you.

David Heilbronner, November 9, 2004