Pubdate: Wed, 17 Dec 2003 Source: Roanoke Times (VA) Copyright: 2003 Roanoke Times Contact: http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/368 Author: David S. Courey BLAME SUPERVISORS FOR CLINIC DEBACLE Roanoke County citizens continue to face the problem of the methadone clinic. No one in the county seems to take blame for the problem, and the county is calling for unity in preventing this disaster from becoming a reality. This problem came about by the attitude of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors that anything can and should be built on Colonial Avenue. The comprehensive plan has largely been ignored, and any developer is treated like royalty. Any citizen who opposes development is effectively ignored. The board of supervisors has passed down through the county employees an attitude that the quality of neighborhoods isn't nearly so important as revenue. So, it's understandable why someone in the county allowed the clinic to feel it could establish at the proposed site. Following the citizen uproar, the board of supervisors quickly decided the clinic at that spot is totally unacceptable. It's anyone's guess as to whether the clinic will be allowed to set up in that area of neighborhoods and schools. However, it's the board of supervisors' fault and the attitude it projects that has caused this potential disaster. David S. Courey ROANOKE - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin