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.