Pubdate: Mon, 23 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

COUNTY SAYS NO TO METHADONE CLINIC

ABINGDON - Washington County just said no to a methadone clinic proposed in 
the Lowry Hills community.

Appalachian Treatment Services, based in Greenville, S.C., approached the 
county in December for a certificate of occupancy for the clinic at 21357 
Old Dominion Road. The clinic's location near a school, church and on the 
only entrance into the neighborhood drew protests from the neighborhood 
association and some county officials and state lawmakers.

Since then, County Administrator Mark Reeter has been reviewing whether a 
clinic is allowed in the general business zone and whether the modular home 
on the site is appropriate.

Traditionally, the clinics use the synthetic opiate methadone to wean 
addicts off heroin. The more common addiction in the Mountain Empire is the 
painkiller oxycodone.

According to a report Monday, Reeter said the proposed use of the home is 
"not consistent with, nor contemplated within the current provisions" of 
the B-2 zone.

He suggested reworking the county's zoning ordinance to allow methadone 
clinics in general business and industrial zones. However, his plan would 
prevent clinics from locating within a half-mile of public or private K-12 
schools, daycare centers, churches, residentially-zoned districts or within 
1,000 feet of any home.

Clinic operator Larry Worley said he wasn't surprised by the decision. He 
added that he will likely appeal, especially since he said the new zoning 
provision could prevent him from moving anywhere in the county.

The location in the Lowry Hills subdivision was within a half-mile of John 
S. Battle High School and a church. It drew heavy criticism from residents 
who said they were worried about increases in crime and traffic and 
decreased property values.

The clinic plans also drew criticism from Highlands Community Services 
Board and the county School Board.

Residents were excited Monday about the county's denial.

David Buchanan of 15368 Wilderness Road said he had nothing against those 
who seek treatment at methadone clinics, but he said the location was a 
poor choice.

"It was not an ideal location with the church and school and a community 
right here," Buchanan said. "It looks like they'd be better served in a 
medical location."

Lisa Moore of 21573 Old Dominion Road said she has been against the clinic 
from the beginning, but is also frustrated with the way county leaders 
handled the situation.

When the controversy began, Worley offered to talk to county leaders about 
a better location. Worley said he tried for weeks to contact Reeter, who 
refused to discuss the issue.

Moore said diplomacy on the part of the county might have had a better and 
quicker resolution for county residents.

"We've been putting this off since December," she said. "To know they were 
putting this on the back burner and leaving us dangling is frustrating."

Worley said he was particularly disturbed by the buffer conditions of the 
proposed zoning ordinance.

"You cannot zone a business out of existence," he said. "We're more than 
happy to try to work with folks to find a place that is as least offensive 
as we can, but it gets hard when they start putting seven or eight 
stipulations on it."

He said if the county can't show that a place exists within business or 
industrial zones that's far enough away from schools, homes and daycare 
centers, he will take the county to court.

The matter is set to be discussed tonight by the county Board of 
Supervisors. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman