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.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake