Warminster officials said Discovery House will not be moving to a new location in the township. The month-long heated debate over a methadone clinic’s new location near a residential neighborhood at 1386 W. Street Road in Warminster may be over as, according to township solicitor Michael Savona, “Discovery House is not moving in. “It appears that Warminster’s proposed changes to its zoning ordinance and map are preventing the clinic from moving to the Street Road location. Zoning officer Tom Thern sent Discovery House representatives a letter last week informing them that since they had not filed any permits with the township, the clinic would fall under the new zoning map. The old map had the building zoned for “office use,” which permitted medical clinics. And with no stipulations for methadone clinics, Discovery House, an outpatient drug treatment facility currently located at 329 W. County Line Road, was told months ago it could move there by the township’s license and inspections department. The new map, which has been in the works for about a year and was designed partly to help avoid similar situations, stipulates methadone clinics must be located in “industrial zones.” And even though the ordinance has not been formally adopted, Thern and Savona agreed it only had to be advertised to affect new proposals. Pointing to a “pending ordinance doctorate,” Savona added that even if Discovery House pursued the matter in court, he couldn’t see it winning a decision. Unhappy with its current facility that is spread over three buildings, Discovery House signed a lease early in the year with Sal Giaimo, who owns the office. But after hearing Discovery House planned to move in sometime in June, surprised residents and supervisors tried to persuade clinic representatives to move to a less residential area. The new location is near the Ben Wilson Senior Center, which hundreds of senior citizens visit each week. And after meetings with Rob Kornacki, Discovery House’s director of development, had failed to change anyone’s mind, it appeared the facility had done its due diligence in finding a better home for its patients and staff. But now, it appears it did not. Sounding sympathetic to the clinic’s situation, Frank Feinberg, president of the board of supervisors, said the township would continue to help Discovery House relocate, if it still wishes to move. Discovery House representatives were not available for comment and Thorn said he has not spoken with any since sending his letter last Thursday. Rich Pietras can be reached at 215-345-3119 or rpietras@phillyBurbs.com.
Warminster officials said Discovery House will not be moving to a new location in the township. The month-long heated debate over a methadone clinic’s new location near a residential neighborhood at 1386 W. Street Road in Warminster may be over
May 29, 2009Owner of Giuseppe’s Pizza Leased His Property to Discovery House Methadone Clinic for About 25 Hoagies a Day… Residents of Warminster Should Be Outraged at Giuseppe’s Pizza And Take A Stand Against His Business In Warminster
May 4, 2009Why aren’t the other residents of Warminster upset with Sal Giaimo, owner of Giuseppe’s Pizza? It appears he caused all of this with his agreeing to lease his property to Discover House Methadone Clinic. I overheard someone say in one of the meetings, which is to the point…
He leased his property for about 25 Hoagies a day… Did he need the money that bad?
The Residents of Warminster should be upset with Giuseppe’s Pizza of Warminster and take a stand against hs business. He created this whole issue by letting his real estate agent, Penns Grant Realty and Kurt Eisenschmid, bring this to him and signing the lease.
Why is everyone still going to Giuseppe’s Pizza?
By the way he has a zoning meeting coming up at the Warminster Township Building next week about building his new restaurant at the same location behind the for the Discovery House Methadone Clinic.
The Warminster, Bucks County PA residents had a meeting at the Warminster Township Building last evening – April 30th – regarding the proposed Discovery House Methadone Clinic renting the property for their methadone drug clinic business in the residential area. The building located at 1386 W. Street Rd. Warminster, PA 18974, owned by Sal Giaimo is also the owner of Giuseppe’s Pizza on Street Rd in Warminster
May 1, 2009The Warminster, Bucks County PA residents had a meeting at the Warminster Township Building last evening – April 30th – regarding the proposed Discovery House Methadone Clinic renting the property for their methadone drug clinic business in the residential area. The building located at 1386 W. Street Rd. Warminster, PA 18974, owned by Sal Giaimo is also the owner of Giuseppe’s Pizza on Street Rd in Warminster (keep this in mind when deciding where to go out to eat if this goes through). The real estate agent involved was Kurt Eisenschmid, Kurt’s email is kurt@pgrealty.com of Penn’s Grant Realty, a local office in Doylestown, PA, company email info@pgrealty.com (keep this in mind when recommending a realtor or using one if this goes through).
There are a few questions we had relating to this meeting:
1) Where was Sal Giaimo of Giuseppe’s Pizza at the meeting, or anyone from their establishment? It would have been nice of him to show his support, considering what he has already done. Oh thats right he doesn’t LIVE in Warminster…
2) Where was Kurt Eisenschmid of Penns Grant Realty? Oh thats right, he doesn’t live in Warminster either, thanks Kurt for your help…
3) Kurt Shaffer, the attorney who said he represents Sal Giaimo at the meeting last week at Giuseppe’s Pizza. Where was he at the meeting? And is he Sal’s Attorney or the Attorney for the township?
4) Frank Feinberg – Chairman of the Warminster Township Board of Supervisors, email ffeinberg@warminstertownship.org, Whose side is Frank Feinberg on anyway? Why was Discovery House given All the time they needed to get their points and information across without interuption, by good ole Frank. but when the residents spoke, they were cut short without really getting their point across on numerous occasions. Frank, who do you represent here????
Kudos to the other township members who stood up for their residents:
Thank you to,
Leo Quinn
Gail Johnson
Ellen Jarvis
Fred Gold
and also to Robert Tate
Remember these people when the elections come around and who stood by the people!!!
The meeting ended with without any type of a resolution or any reassurance from the Discovery House people that there would be any movement or consideration on their end. They take the stand that they are not a detriment to the residental neighborhood of Warminster (By the way Discovery House you are not building a playground or park here) by putting their methadone Drug Clinic in the neighborhood.
Remember the residents are not asking you to NOT put Discovery House in Warminster, BUT only to relocate it in Warminster but AWAY from a residential neighborhood.
If you are TRULY want to work with the community and want to be accepted by the residents of the community, then listen to them.
Katharine M. Watson- PA State Representative – 144th Responds To The Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant in Warminster Leases Property in Residential Community To Discovery House Methadone Clinic Through Kurt Eisenschmid of Penn’s Grant Realty
April 27, 2009Katharine M. Watson- PA State Representative – 144th Responds To The Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant in Warminster Leases Property in Residential Community To Discovery House Methadone Clinic Through Kurt Eisenschmid – Kurts email kurt@pgrealty.com of Penn’s Grant Realty
Mr. David L. Piccoli, II, President
Mr. Robert Kornacki, Director of Development
Discovery House
66 Pavilion Avenue
Providence, RI 02905
VIA FAX TRANSMISSION
HARD COPY TO FOLLOW
Dear Mr. Piccoli and Mr. Kornacki:
I am writing to apprise you of a matter of great concern that will directly affect one of the nine municipalities I represent as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Over the past two weeks, my district office has been inundated with calls from angry and frustrated residents of Warminster Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
As you are aware, these residents have been vociferously expressing their displeasure with the proposed plan to relocate Discovery House from its present site on County Line Road to 1386 W. Street Road. As with any change, some criticism is to be expected. However, the sudden nature of the change, coupled with the lack of comprehensive information provided to local residents has created quite an uproar. I must add that I myself, as the closest neighbor, with my district office located directly next to the property in question for almost ten years, was not made aware of this until contacted by a concerned neighbor. No public official, no private entity, nor my landlord saw fit to inform me of this impending five-year rental.
Respectfully, I must say that I do not believe this location will yield the desired effect that your company is seeking; public transportation is not readily available. Furthermore, the residents of this neighborhood are justly concerned about the potential for increased crime and violence, along with the increase in “nuisance” problems, such as noise and litter. Having personally visited the current Discovery House location, I too am concerned, and therefore will exercise my due diligence as the closest neighbor, to assure myself and others that the parking grounds and surrounding area are maintained in an orderly fashion.
Certainly, most residents understand that it is important for individuals who need rehabilitation for substance abuse to receive and have access to proper treatment and care. The way in which the relocation of the facility was done, however, has galvanized an otherwise benign, accepting community. To their credit, the majority of these residents have channeled their displeasure into a positive action: they wish to help you find a more suitable location for the facility. Legal obligations notwithstanding, I respectfully proffer the suggestion that the facility would be better suited in a higher-volume, commercial area or industrial park, with access to public transportation. Many in the community have volunteered to work with you to secure such a site.
In these hard times, I understand the tension between your need to improve your bottom line, and the need to provide safe, effective treatment for those who wish to improve their personal situation. That said, please reconsider your decision to locate your facility in a residential community, with a senior center nearby. While I understand Discovery House’s mission to provide treatment and rehabilitation services to those in need, to do that at the expense of a residential neighborhood seems shortsighted and counterproductive.
I look forward to your written response.
Very truly yours,
Katharine M. Watson
State Representative – 144th
Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant in Warminster Leases Property in Residential Community To Discovery House Methadone Clinic Through Kurt Eisenschmid of Penn’s Grant Realty
April 23, 2009Warminster residents looking to relocate Discovery House Methadone Clinic out of the residential community site that was leased to them by Sal Giaimo owner of Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant in Warminster. The Real Estate Agent was Penn’s Grant Realty – Kurt Eisenschmid Kurt’s email is kurt@pgrealty.com. Warminster residents understand the need for such a clinic and are welcome to having it in Warminster BUT NOT in a residential area where it is moving to: 1386 W. Street Rd. Warminster, PA 18974, owned by Sal Giaimo owner of Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant in Warminster . They are other opportunities within Warminster that are not in a residential area that could service the need.
Warminster residents are upset with long-standing Warminster business owner of Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant, Sal Giaimo for leasing his property, (we know he needs the money) although zoned medical, in the heart of a residential community to Discovery House Methadone Clinic. They are also upset with the real estate agent – Kurt Eisenschmid, Kurt’s email is kurt@pgrealty.com of Penn’s Grant Realty a local office in Doylestown, PA for his part in this development.
Residents should think long and hard about patronizing both of these businesses in our community for bringing this situation to our neighborhood. I know many of the residents expressed that they will not be eating at Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant in Warminster and will dissuade anyone from using the services of Kurt Eisenschmid, Kurt’s email is kurt@pgrealty.com of Penn’s Grant Realty.
We hope you join our cause and NOT patonize their business because of what they are doing to you, the residents of Warminster and the surrounding area.
Let us hear your thoughts on Sal Giaimo, Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant, Kurt Eisenschmid, Kurt’s email is kurt@pgrealty.com and Penn’s Grant Realty - company email info@pgrealty.com.
Please feel free to post on here as well as email Kurt - email is kurt@pgrealty.com and Penn’s Grant Realty - company email info@pgrealty.com. Fill up their emails and let them know how you feel. Also, don’t forget to email Ellen Jarvis – ejarvis@warminstertownship.org of Supervisor of Warminster Township – http://www.warminstertownship.org and let her know how you feel as well. We don’t have Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant website or email at this time but if you have it, feel free to post it. It is odd they (Warminster Township Supervisors) were only notified of this situation within the last few days although the lease was signed for the property in February. Maybe the person on Licenses and Inspection for the township conveniently “forgot” to pass this along… makes us wonder who is on our side…
