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Planners oppose zoning change for drug rehab center in Gallagher Twp.

By JOHN RISHEL

jrishel@lockhaven.com

LOCK HAVEN– The Clinton County Planning Commission does not recommend changing the zoning of a historic property so that a local man can build a drug treatment and rehabilitation center.

The vote was unanimous at its meeting Tuesday night, with members agreeing that changing the Woodlands Conservation District zoning of the mountainous Woolrich Inc. lodge property in Gallagher Township would set an unwanted precedent for all land zoned the same way.

The county commissioners will decide the same question today. As anticipated, nearly a hundred people attended the Planning Commission meeting in the large courtroom at the county courthouse.

Most had one thing on their mind: To voice opposition to a request for a zoning ordinance amendment by Robert C. Wise II, who wants to purchase the mountainous Woolrich Inc. lodge property and develop it into a residential drug treatment facility.

Specifically, Wise requested a “special exception” to permit institutional residences in the Woodland Conservation District on the 39-acre parcel at169 Brayton Lodge Lane.

His proposal is to start a “Be Wise” drug treatment facility for 18 to 26 year old men.

Opposition at Tuesday night’s meeting was overwhelming and in the end, the commission unanimously approved a motion to “not disturb anything” in regard to the Woodland Conservation District and to recommend that the commissioners deny the request.

“I would like to see the zoning stand as currently presented,” said commission Chairman Terry Murty.

Murty emphasized that any change to the zoning ordinance would encompass all types of institutional residences, not just those geared for addiction treatment, and that it would also apply to all Woodland Conservation Districts in all seven municipalities covered under the zoning ordinance, not just the Woolrich property.

Those seven townships municipalities include Grugan, Colebrook, West Keating, East Keating, Noyes, Logan, and Gallagher townships.

The task of the Planning Commission is to develop a recommendation to the commissioners in regard to the zoning amendment.

Between meetings, Planning Director Katherine de Silva reached out to supervisors in those townships.

The move to the large courtroom was made after about 50 people turned out at the planning commission’s Jan. 15 meeting and packed the conference room at the Piper building. At that meeting, the commission heard Wise’s request and tabled further discussion until this past Tuesday’s meeting in order to give staff more time to collect information … and ultimately, secure a larger venue.

Some of those speaking out against Wise’s request follow.

Carlita Wilson, Grugan Township secretary, told de Silva that “the township does not have its own police force and is covered by state police. Incident response times can be long. We don’t have our own fire or ambulance company, and first responders are a long way away. The W/C zoned districts in Grugan are designated to protect things like the Lick Run watershed, Eagleton Run, and the Baker Run confluence. For those reasons, Grugan is not in favor of amending the ordinance.”

Grugan Township solicitor Paul Welch said, “We are dealing with a number of emotional issues, but most importantly, with Woodland Conservation district the intent is to encourage preservation of these wooded areas. If that intent is nullified, it creates a slippery slope. What if someone else proposes further changes to W/C? How do you deny that? It sets the precedent of allowing other uses in these districts. There is no reason to move forward with this. The state police or emergency response are 20 to 60 minutes away any time a potential issue would happen. It is not set up for this use.”

Colebrook Township supervisors reported they were “generally opposed” to the change, based on safety concerns. Township secretary Pauline Simcox asked, “You wouldn’t allow these kinds of uses in a national park, why would you allow it in our most protected district?”

Logan Township supervisors were unanimously opposed to a change in the district, with secretary Bobbi White saying they “would like the integrity of this zone to remain in tact as it is currently written.”

East Keating Supervisor Steve Miller and Noyes Township Secretary Elizabeth Kepler also conveyed opposition to the amendment via email.

Gallagher Township supervisor Bill McCoy urged the commission to “keep prestige areas.”

“I talked to numerous Gallagher residents, they want the land like this. It opens up the bottle to escalate, and rural areas to be hit. Issues include road usage, which are not always maintained in the winter.”

Kenny Porter, a local resident who lives a “stone’s throw” away from the lodge, said “I moved there six years ago because the natural habitat appealed to me.

“I think what Mr. Wise is doing is great, with all respect, but if the zoning does get changed, what about the water supply? We have wells, we don’t have public water, and we all draw from the same aqueduct. Public safety concerns are through the roof. We own part of that road privately, we pay dues, and at times we struggle to maintain that road. Distance from hospitals and security is a big concern. We have families, 53 children, 33 dwellings. The aftermath that could happen would cause a snowball effect,” Porter said.

Planning Commission member John Dotterer told Wise, “My hat is off to you and what you are trying to accomplish, but I do not think you’ll get to do it here. You will have to go to where it is a permitted use. If you want to fill a room, just announce you want to start an addiction treatment center or a hog farm. You are just not gonna put a hog farm anywhere but in the agriculture district.”

Wise, who presented a PowerPoint presentation at the beginning of the meeting, told the crowd what he wanted to do and why.

“I need to do this project. I’ve had my own issues with substance abuse so that is what my passion became. It didn’t work out before for several reasons,” said Wise.

His son, Bobby, died from a drug overdose just days before he was to graduate from Central Mountain High School.

And Wise’s brother, Sean, also died from a drug overdose.

Wise had proposed similar plans for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center off of Route 664 in Woodward Township last year, and although the necessary zoning change was approved by the township planning board, his plans never came to fruition.

“People are wondering why this building, why in our back yard?” Wise asked. “This is the perfect place for what I want to do. It is a beautiful building.”

Woolrich is trying to sell the property as the company undergoes significant consolidation under new ownership.

“What am I trying to accomplish? It is an unfortunate reality that young people every day become addicted to life-altering and deadly substances. People are dying all the time. There is an opioid epidemic throughout our country, even in rural areas. These would be people already in our neighborhood, and nobody that doesn’t want to be there,” Wise continued.

He said mental, social and spiritual health are all foundations of the treatment he wants to deliver, an “integrational approach” that ties in drug treatment with mental health.

“At 18 to 26 years old, they still have their youth ahead of them. I get excited about what I am trying to do, at least. These are problems worth solving,” Wise said.

Commissioner Jeff Snyder invited all interested parties to attend today’s commissioners’ meeting at 10 a.m. at the county Piper Building, where he and fellow Commissioners Pete Smeltz and Paul Conklin will vote on whether to allow the amendment change.

In another agenda item, the planning commission recommended an amendment to reduce the minimum lot size for cemeteries from five acres to two acres, in RC, R, RF and A districts, to accommodate a private cemetery for the Amish community of Sugar Valley. The amendment also added that 100 feet is the minimum distance between burials and drinking water wells.

“Various other municipalities don’t even mention lot size, just special exception use. I have seen plenty of cemeteries under five acres that don’t pose a problem,” said commission member Ryan Graw.

The Planning Commission includes Chairman Murty, Dotterer, Graw, Vice Chairman Dave Calhoun, Secretary Larry Sheats, Melvin Coakley, Reza Lotfi, Rick Bowman and Roger Hoy.

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