COUNTY RETHINKS METHADONE CLINIC

Board to decide site's fate in January

The fate of Horry County's first methadone clinic now is uncertain, after
the county's zoning board voted Monday to reconsider its earlier approval
of the controversial facility.

The Board of Adjustments and Zoning Appeals will decide at a meeting next
month whether to allow the clinic to open its office near Fantasy Harbour.

However, because it has a business license, the clinic could open before
that decision. It would then have to close if the board votes to rescind
the approval.

The board voted 4-2 to reconsider.

At the meeting in January, which has not yet been scheduled, the board
again will hear from both sides about the merits of methadone treatment and
its impact on the community.

The attorney for Center of Hope said he is confident the board will decide
to stand by its July 2002 approval.

S.C. Rep. Thad Viers, who leads the fight against the clinic, called it a
victory for residents.

"The public got to them," Viers said. "It took a lot of courage for the
board to actually vote against the clinic. The evidence was on our side."

The board listened for more than three hours Monday to the clinic's
attorney and residents opposed to it. Board members said they based their
decision on details of county zoning regulations, but it was difficult to
ignore almost 100 people who protested the clinic, often with emotional
outbursts.

The clinic's attorney, Reynolds Williams, said the crowd may have swayed
the board. "There were a whole lot of people there making a whole lot of
noise," he said, promising that "we'll get ready for Round Two, and we'll
prevail, eventually."

Methadone is an addictive narcotic used nationally as a substitute for
heroin, OxyContin and other opiates. Treatment centers prescribe it to
addicts to avoid withdrawal and make addiction less destructive. Nearby
residents, business owners and the parents of children from a nearby school
fear the clinic will bring crime and drugs to the area.

Viers argued a rehearing was needed because the clinic misrepresented
itself and used incorrect measurements in its application to the county.

Board members said enough doubts were raised about the clinic's possible
impact on the community to warrant a rehearing.

"I feel like the board did everything it was required to do [in July
2002]," said board member Kelly Jones, who voted to reconsider. "But I
think there are enough questions."

The clinic said too much time has passed since the initial approval to
reconsider. Williams said the clinic's directors have spent $500,000 on
their plans, based on the board's approval. Williams said a rehearing would
put all property owners at risk of "frivolous" attacks.

"It would be the wrong message to send to homeowners," Williams said. "That
you can have property rights taken away 17 months [after official approval]."

The vote came after a stream of residents spoke out against the clinic. At
several points, board Chairman Steve Alger had to ask audience members to
be quiet.

"We're not hear to debate whether a methadone clinic will be good or bad
for Horry County," Alger said.

That debate begins immediately, now that the board has voted for a rehearing.

"Now, we can debate the whole methadone issue," Viers said. "We don't want
this in our county."

[PHOTO CAPTION]

Attorney Reynolds Williams (right), represents the Center of Hope methadone
clinic, cross-examines S.C. Rep. Thad Viers during an Horry County Board of
Adjustments and Zoning Appeals meeting Monday in Conway. Viers petitioned
the board to reconsider its decision on the methadone clinic, which the
board had given its approval to in July 2002. By Randall Hill / The Sun News.