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Former Tiller Clinic Will Not Be Rezoned

Carla Eckels
/
KMUW

The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission voted 6-4 Thursday against moving forward with a rezoning request regarding the former Tiller clinic in east Wichita. The vote came after more than an hour of discussion.

Commissioner Chuck Warren asked his colleagues where they draw the line between how the clinic will affect the neighborhood and protecting the private property rights of a business owner.

Warren told the Commission he thought they should explore options with a public hearing, which the commissioners voted down.

Julie Burkhart, owner of the South Wind Women's Center, said she thought the decision to deny the rezoning request was spot on.

"We're very happy by that," she said.

"We bought that property with the intent to re-establish a medical facility there and that's what we intend to do."

David Gittrich with the pro-life group Kansans for Life told the Commission residents in the area do not want the new clinic in the neighborhood. He said he was concerned for the safety of all involved.

Gittrich brought along his petition forms with more than 14,000 signatures of citizens in favor of the rezoning. He said he will have to see if taxpayers will accept the Planning Commission's decision, and is considering his next move.

"We're going to see if the place is actually going to open," he said.

"It's got a ways to go. It's got to get some permits. We're going to be visiting with the members of the City Council to see if they want to do anything. So, we are going to have to see how things go in the next few weeks."

Carla Eckels is Director of Organizational Culture at KMUW. She produces and hosts the R&B and gospel show Soulsations and brings stories of race and culture to The Range with the monthly segment In the Mix. Carla was inducted into The Kansas African American Museum's Trailblazers Hall of Fame in 2020 for her work in broadcast/journalism.