Oklahoma HIV clinic faces zoning battle

Tulsa, Okla.'s Health Outreach Prevention Education AIDS service organization is facing a zoning battle over the use of a mobile structure to offer HIV antibody tests, the Tulsa World reports. HOPE had been running its HIV testing program in a structure behind the Community of Hope Church in Tulsa while raising funds for a permanent structure, but a complaint by a local resident led to citations for zoning violations and a hearing before the Tulsa Board of Adjustment in July. The board in 2004 approved a special exemption for the church to use the mobile structure for accessory use, but city officials will have to decide whether offering HIV antibody testing qualifies as appropriate accessory use. The special exemption expired in May. Testing clinic officials say they are unsure where they could move the testing center if the city rules against them. HOPE offered around 3,000 HIV tests last year, according to agency executive director Kristi Frisbie.