Five business owners on Walnut and New Street claim a new women's health clinic approved for 833 Walnut Street will hurt neighboring businesses. They've filed a lawsuit against the Summit Medical Centers and the Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning Commission.
Their suit claims they were never notified of a May 14 zoning hearing or told that abortions would be performed at the site. They also say they fear for their safety due to more protests expected at the clinic site.
Seth Hattaway works at a property management company nearby and saw the protests. “Honestly, I just saw a cop car and people singing on the street corner. It just took me a little longer to get out of the parking lot, but they seem to be pretty mild,” said Hattaway.
He says the protests have not impacted the number of customers he's seen come in their doors and he doesn't think it will.
“Of course, I can’t speak for the other companies around here, but as far as our property management company, it probably won’t have much of an impact,” said Hattaway.
Summit Center has not returned our phone calls about the clinic. Their zoning application says they'll provide low-cost women's health services including first-trimester abortions.
