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.
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June 2, 2009 at 8:12 pm |
As a resident of an adjoining street, I was only vagley aware of the full situation. As I speak with others on my street they too are stunned to learn of all that is happening. I wish flyers were passed around or more attention brought to the situation, as we all would have banned products or services from anyone who supports/supported such actions near a senior center and where many children live and play.
October 17, 2009 at 7:46 pm |
You people amaze me! I find it ironic that the residents in that town are so vocal when it comes down to having a Methadone Clinc near them but fail to realize that the patients at this clinc are their neighbors, their neighbors family members, etc… I do not recall hearing about any present clinic neighbors reporting being mugged, assaulted, their homes robbed/vandalized, or worse. The complaint about the new location being “too close to a senior home” is based on what previous incidents involving an elderly person being harmed? As I previously mentioned, the lack of crime surrounding this clinic should be considered by all those so quick to judge the facility and it’s patients. Currently there is a considerably large apartment complex right next to it that obviously still maintains tenants with a drug treatment center so close. Maybe I’m wrong & that the difference of less than 1 mile between the old site and the proposed location really will make the crime rate in Bucks County dramaticly rise…
May 5, 2010 at 6:23 pm |
we currently are experiencing a similar situation here in our city of windsor ontario where a methadone clinic has actually moved into a residential area without inform any of the residence of the community. This draws strong concerns as they plan on seeing 800 to 1200 patients a day and its in the center of of a community surrounding by homes and a children’s bus drop off.
can someone please suggest some intervention to move this clinic to a more prominent location.