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Charlotte County delays decision on Love Over Crisis conditional‑use permit after applicant Q&A
Summary
The Board continued consideration of a Conditional Use Permit for Love Over Crisis after questioning about services, emergency procedures and the applicant’s stated rental policy; the Planning Commission had recommended approval with a no‑overnight stipulation.
Shelly Mays Couch sought a Conditional Use Permit for Love Over Crisis (LOC) to operate a Charlotte County satellite office providing counseling, case management and individualized services. Planning staff reported the Planning Commission voted 8–2 (one absent) to recommend approval with the stipulation that no overnight accommodations be provided.
During questioning Couch said LOC’s home base is in Buckingham, the Charlotte County location would be a satellite office and she expects five staff to work from the office. She described services as counseling and case management and said LOC is state‑funded through Medicare, not a nonprofit. Couch said she would instruct staff to call 911 when a client needs emergency help and that she has processed emergency custody/transport orders in the past, though she said she would not personally accompany patients to the hospital when there is a TDO (temporary detention order).
Board members asked whether the office would have a second emergency exit (Couch confirmed a secondary exit) and whether rental of office space would be open to all. Couch described LOC as Christian‑based and said she would limit rentals to those following biblical principles; in the transcript she said she would refuse a rental if the prospective renter was not a Christian. The board discussed those statements and other operational details but did not vote to deny the CUP. A motion to approve the CUP failed for lack of a second; a motion to continue the item until the next Board meeting passed with all present voting Aye.
Next step: LOC remains scheduled for further consideration at the board’s next regular meeting, when the applicant may provide additional clarifications or the board may take action based on updated information.
