HORRY COUNTY ZONING BOARD STILL ANTICIPATES DECISION ON METHADONE

MB - Clinic Review On Hold

There is still no ruling on whether Horry County's zoning board can
reconsider its approval of the county's first methadone clinic.

On Monday, a judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the
county from reconsidering its approval of the clinic, called Center of
Hope of Myrtle Beach, which is set to open soon in Fantasy Harbour.

Until Circuit Judge John Breeden rules, those who are fighting against
the clinic have no choice but to wait.

The county's Board of Adjustments and Zoning Appeals approved the
clinic in July 2002. But after residents raised concerns that the
clinic would bring drugs and crime to the area, S.C. Rep. Thad Viers,
R-Myrtle Beach, asked the board to reconsider.

But the clinic's owners argued that the county cannot reconsider now,
16 months after it approved the plans. Their attorney argued that the
clinic's owners have spent more than $400,000 on the clinic, hired
employees and began the process of securing state permits.

An attorney for the zoning board did not argue for or against the
clinic but maintained the board must have the power to reconsider its
own decisions. If allowed to reconsider, the board could vote to stand
by its approval.

Breeden heard the arguments Monday, imposed the restraining order and
said he would issue a ruling soon after receiving additional
information from the attorneys. The attorneys submitted that
information Wednesday morning.

There's no guess as to when Breeden might rule. He could not be
reached Friday.

"Generally, you don't like to rush the judge," said John Zilinsky, the
attorney for the zoning board. "But I sort of thought we would have
heard from him."

"Now, we just sit around and wait," said Reynolds Williams, the
attorney for the clinic.

If Breeden permanently blocks the zoning board from reconsidering, the
clinic will likely open as soon as it receives its permits from the
state.

That could come within a month.

If Breeden grants the zoning board the power to reconsider, then it
would be up to the board to decide whether the clinic has permission
to open.