Pubdate: Fri, 26 Jul 2002
Source: The News-Gazette (IL)
Copyright: 2002 The News-Gazette
Contact:  http://www.news-gazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1272
Author: Deana Poole
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

PLANNERS RECOMMEND RESTRICTIONS FOR CLINIC

URBANA - If a methadone treatment center is to be built in Urbana, it 
should require approval of the city council.

That was the recommendation of the majority of the city's plan commission 
Thursday night, which voted 4-1-1 to urge the council to require that a 
special use permit be issued for a methadone treatment center. Council 
members will vote on the issue at their Aug. 5 meeting.

The change in the city's zoning ordinance stems from the Champaign-Urbana 
Public Health District leasing office space at 211 N. Broadway Ave., U, 
where the district intends to move its division of HIV, sexually 
transmitted diseases and tuberculosis prevention and management. The 
district also has indicated its intent to provide methadone treatment.

Libby Tyler, community development director and zoning administrator, 
studied the ordinance and determined that, as written, it did not allow a 
methadone treatment center to be built. Officials from the health district 
have argued the facility should be allowed by right and fits under the 
city's definition of a clinic.

The text amendment approved by the plan commission Thursday adds the 
following definition of a methadone treatment center to the city's 
ordinance: "Methadone treatment facility means any facility, other than a 
hospital, where the addictive narcotic drug methadone is administered or 
dispensed to patients." The plan commission also added language to ensure 
that the facility is licensed and meets state and federal guidelines.

Those voting in favor of the changes: Laurie Goscha, Lew Hopkins, Alan 
Douglas and Joseph Rank. Voting against was Michael Pollock. Christopher 
Alix abstained because he missed most of Thursday's meeting.

Goscha, a newly appointed commission member, said a methadone treatment 
center should be regulated by the city - and require approval from the 
council - to properly address citizen concerns of increased crime and drug 
use in the city.

Under the proposed text amendment scheduled for council vote, a methadone 
treatment center would be allowed only in a Business 3, Business 4 or 
Medical Institutional Campus zone.

When voting on the special use permit, the commission and city council can 
set requirements for parking, number of indoor waiting areas, restroom 
facilities, patient load and hours of operation.

Alix said the commission was setting a negative precedent by putting 
stricter requirements on a methadone center than it would any other 
facility that had the same potential for "problems."

Tyler said most of the concerns the city has received so far have been 
about the proposed location - near downtown, an area where redevelopment 
and revitalization has been a focus.

Allowing a methadone treatment center in Urbana will be a detriment to the 
community, said Urbana resident Andrew Kwen.

"If this gets opened, you'll just see more addicts in the community," he 
said, noting that methadone is more addictive than heroin.

At its August meeting, the city council could modify the amendment and 
allow such a facility by right, and then a methadone treatment center would 
not require council approval.
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MAP posted-by: Beth