The Fayette Pregnancy Resource Center is looking to relocate to a .92-acre lot at 360 East Lanier in Fayetteville. Planning and Zoning commissioners got a look at the development plans at the Aug. 11 work session. Plans aside, there is still a long way to go to construct the building.

Fayette Pregnancy Resource Center is currently located on Bethea Road off Ga. Highway 314. Project engineer Billy Brundage said the center is proposing to construct a 5,700 square-foot building on the less than one acre currently zoned C-2. The current center on Bethea totals approximately 4,000 square feet.

The proposal included a variance request on the number of parking spaces. The building’s square footage calls for 28 spaces, though Brundage said 18 spaces should be adequate for the non-profit’s needs. The building will have a 1930s architectural look, he said.

The property is rectangular in shape and sits perpendicular to Lanier. The proposal calls for the building to sit off the road and to have parking along one side and to the rear. Brundage said the object in having the building and parking closer to the rear of the property was to save some of the large trees that are closer to the street.

Brundage said that curb cut plans for the driveway now sit at a width of 28 feet which should meet Ga. Dept. of Transportation requirements.

Brundage will work with planning staff on adjustments to the roof and any other needed issues prior to returning the regular meeting Aug. 25.

For her part, center Director Lucy Hough was happy about the prospect of eventually opening a larger location.

“We’re excited about it. We think it’s going to be a terrific location. We did a survey of our current clients and the location was well-received,” Hough said Monday. “I think the lot will be perfect for the building’s size and I believe the building will be attractive and will give us room to expand.”

While Pregnancy Resource Center will likely make it through the approval process, the idea of actually constructing the new building is another matter.

“We have the funds to buy the (Lanier Avenue) property,” Hough said. “And we’ll work with Square Foot Ministries to raise the money to build the building.”

Hough said the non-profit’s long-range plans include providing ultrasound services to clients.

Current services offered at Fayette Pregnancy Resource Center include pregnancy counseling by 20 volunteer peer counselors, education on pregnancy, Bible studies, parenting and various life skills classes, alternatives to abortion, referrals for medical, housing, adoption and a clothes closet for infants and young children.

“We’re having difficulty keeping some things in stock,” Hough said of items such as diapers, wipes and toiletries for babies. “In June we had more clients that we’ve ever had before. And in July we had even more.”

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