Mobile methadone treatment clinic application approved for Brusselles Street property
ST. MARYS - A conditional use application for a mobile methadone treatment facility was recently approved by the City of St. Marys.
On Monday, March 18 a public notice was printed in The Daily Press stating the conditional use application for Discovery House, LLC to operate a methadone treatment facility at 1300 Brusselles Street is deemed approved under section 704 of the St. Marys Zoning Code. The location is situated in the industrial zoning district where conditional uses are permitted.
To date the city conducted a public hearing on the matter on January 24 where individuals could testify by offering their input. From that date the city had 45 days to render a decision which was due Saturday, March 9.
City Council called a special meeting on Friday, March 8, marking the 44th day since the hearing. During the brief meeting, the only motion that occurred was to adopt a decision and the motion did not pass. During a roll call vote councilmen Stephen Bagley, Jerry Sorg, Ned Jacob and Joseph Sarginger all voted against the motion while Shane Schneider, Tony Gregory, and Mayor Lyle Garner voted in favor of the motion.
St. Marys City Manager Joe Fleming stated all options and responses were discussed by City Council.
“Council took careful consideration pertaining to all the information presented at the public hearing in formulating a response to the conditional-use application,” Fleming said.
He added the situation is non-typical since it must fall in line with the laws of the Commonwealth and local ordinances.
“It is difficult since the business is established on private property within an industrial zoning district, where a methadone facility (medical facility) is an approved use,” Fleming stated.
During the public hearing David Tshudy, part of law firm representing Discovery House, presented documents including a deed from the estate of the late Albert A. Prechtl and a lease agreement between the executors of Prechtl estate and Discovery House along with a site plan of the property.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) an individual in treatment or recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) is considered to have a disability due to drug addiction substantially limiting one or more of their major life activities. Drug addiction is considered a physical or mental impairment under the ADA. The Federal Rehabilitation Act classifies drug addiction as a disease.