Pubdate: Mon, 02 Feb 2004
Source: Bristol Herald Courier (VA)
Copyright: 2004 Bristol Herald Courier
Contact: http://www.bristolnews.com/contact.html
Website: http://www.bristolnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1211
Author: Chris Dumond
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

METHADONE CLINIC RULING DELAYED

ABINGDON - It could be the end of this month before county administrators 
decide whether a methadone clinic can locate in southern Washington County.

Meanwhile, clinic operators said that their recent efforts to talk to 
county leaders about a different location have been ignored.

When Greenville, S.C.-based Appalachian Treatment Center came to county 
officials in Dec. 2002 asking for permission to locate an addiction 
treatment center on Old Dominion Road in the Lowry Hills community, County 
Administrator Mark Reeter said he expected to make a decision by mid-January.

"I wish I hadn't said anything until I actually checked how much time we 
had to make a decision," Reeter said. "I thought we had 45 days. We 
actually have 90 days to do that."

He said the county could use the remaining month before the deadline to 
render a decision.

At question is whether or not a methadone clinic is suited for the 
property, which is zoned for general business.

Although the county's zoning ordinance allows pharmacies and offices for 
health care practitioners, opponents claim methadone clinics should not be 
allowed.

Those opponents, largely residents of the Lowry Hills subdivision, said 
they're worried about an increase in crime and traffic and a decrease in 
property values.

The county school board has also opposed the clinic because it could be as 
close as 1,650 feet from John S. Battle High School.

Mike Bragg, a Lowry Hills resident and lawyer, also claims the manufactured 
home he said the clinic plans to house the business is illegal. 
Manufactured homes are only allowed in general business areas if they're 
used as model homes or offices for a manufactured home business.

Although this had been the case at one point, Bragg said, the business has 
long closed and the house should have gone with it.

Reeter said a decision on the building, as well as the zoning issue, will 
be ruled on at the same time.

Larry Worley, the man behind the clinic effort, said he regrets the 
controversy and would consider an alternative location. Worley said he's 
been trying to get that message through to Reeter for two weeks.

"We would probably consider another location if someone would sit down and 
talk to us," he said. "If not, we have no alternative to remain where we're at.

"Our desire is not to be in an adversarial relationship with anyone. 
Frankly, though, you don't know what to do until you get some kind of word 
from the county."

The county administrator said he is not in a position to talk about the 
matter until the zoning issue has been decided.

There has been speculation that the county is taking its time to dig in for 
a legal fight. Parties involved have threatened to appeal if the county 
administrator's decision doesn't go their way.

"We're taking a close look at how the language is written in the (zoning) 
code," Reeter said. "There's a great deal of research we're trying to do on 
the legal end."

He said staff was busy reviewing case law in similar instances.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom