Pubdate: Mon, 01 Mar 2004 Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel (TN) Copyright: 2004 The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co. Contact: http://www.knoxnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/226 Author: Hayes Hickman Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) METHADONE CLINIC PERMIT APPROVED MONTH BEFORE ZONING-DRIVEN FREEZE Plans for a second Knoxville-area methadone clinic might not have become an issue if officials had instituted the city's moratorium on such businesses only a month earlier last year. Drug-Research-Development Management Inc. received approval of its building permit for a new clinic on Citico Street, off of Ailor Avenue, in June 2003. One month after the Metropolitan Planning Commission's approval, City Council approved a temporary six-month moratorium on any new clinics until MPC could update the city's zoning code for such facilities. "The timing is unfortunate in that if the moratorium had gone into effect earlier it might have applied to this business," City Councilman Joe Hultquist said. Council members are scheduled for a final vote Tuesday on those new zoning regulations, just as DRD Management makes final preparations on its new site. Hultquist and other council members met with several business owners earlier this month to hear their concerns about plans for the nearby clinic and to discuss the proposed zoning laws. Under the new regulations, methadone clinics would be allowed only in O-1 (Office, Medical & Related Services,) O-3 (Office Park) and BP-1 (Business & Technology Park) districts. They would be required to have the appropriate license and certificate of need from the state Department of Health. And such facilities would also be prohibited within 500 feet of any school, day care, park, church or any business that sells alcohol. Knoxville Law Department officials said Friday they weren't immediately aware of whether, if approved, the new zoning regulations would apply to the Citico Street clinic, but the situation is under review. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake