PLANNERS RECOMMEND RESTRICTIONS FOR CLINIC

URBANA - If a methadone treatment center is to be built in Urbana, it
should require approval of the city council.

That was the recommendation of the majority of the city's plan commission
Thursday night, which voted 4-1-1 to urge the council to require that a
special use permit be issued for a methadone treatment center. Council
members will vote on the issue at their Aug. 5 meeting.

The change in the city's zoning ordinance stems from the Champaign-Urbana
Public Health District leasing office space at 211 N. Broadway Ave., U,
where the district intends to move its division of HIV, sexually
transmitted diseases and tuberculosis prevention and management. The
district also has indicated its intent to provide methadone treatment.

Libby Tyler, community development director and zoning administrator,
studied the ordinance and determined that, as written, it did not allow a
methadone treatment center to be built. Officials from the health district
have argued the facility should be allowed by right and fits under the
city's definition of a clinic.

The text amendment approved by the plan commission Thursday adds the
following definition of a methadone treatment center to the city's
ordinance: "Methadone treatment facility means any facility, other than a
hospital, where the addictive narcotic drug methadone is administered or
dispensed to patients." The plan commission also added language to ensure
that the facility is licensed and meets state and federal guidelines.

Those voting in favor of the changes: Laurie Goscha, Lew Hopkins, Alan
Douglas and Joseph Rank. Voting against was Michael Pollock. Christopher
Alix abstained because he missed most of Thursday's meeting.

Goscha, a newly appointed commission member, said a methadone treatment
center should be regulated by the city - and require approval from the
council - to properly address citizen concerns of increased crime and drug
use in the city.

Under the proposed text amendment scheduled for council vote, a methadone
treatment center would be allowed only in a Business 3, Business 4 or
Medical Institutional Campus zone.

When voting on the special use permit, the commission and city council can
set requirements for parking, number of indoor waiting areas, restroom
facilities, patient load and hours of operation.

Alix said the commission was setting a negative precedent by putting
stricter requirements on a methadone center than it would any other
facility that had the same potential for "problems."

Tyler said most of the concerns the city has received so far have been
about the proposed location - near downtown, an area where redevelopment
and revitalization has been a focus.

Allowing a methadone treatment center in Urbana will be a detriment to the
community, said Urbana resident Andrew Kwen.

"If this gets opened, you'll just see more addicts in the community," he
said, noting that methadone is more addictive than heroin.

At its August meeting, the city council could modify the amendment and
allow such a facility by right, and then a methadone treatment center would
not require council approval.