Drug, alcohol program gets OK, with reluctance

The planning commission believes the site doesn't jibe with the land-use plan.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Judy Thompson wants to give those recovering from drug and alcohol addictions a place where they can work to improve their life skills.
As executive director of the Lawrence County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Thompson has been searching for that site for the past two years.
Members of the city planning commission said this week that they support the idea, but they have reservations about the intended location because it would not coincide with the city's proposed comprehensive land-use plan.
The commission, however, agreed to send city council its recommendation to allow the drug and alcohol commission to begin offering the life skills program downtown at 20 E. Washington St.
The building is the former site of the House of Brews coffee shop and is managed by J. Richard Mauk. Mauk is looking to rent the property to the drug and alcohol commission.
Approval with reservations
"I'm making the motion to approve sending this request to council, but with reservations," said planning Commissioner David Esposito. "I believe using this site for this purpose sells that corner short. But those reservations aren't strong enough to reject this request."
Thompson explained the life skills, or mentoring, program would serve as part of an overall recovery effort for people who have successfully completed a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program.
She said the program, to be funded with an initial state grant of $371,000, would help clients develop various life skills. For example, clients would receive assistance with budgeting, job searching and r & eacute;sum & eacute; writing, among other skills.
Evaluations
Essentially, clients would undergo an evaluation by the drug and alcohol commission, and the commission would make a recommendation as to whether an individual should participate in the life skills program. Each client must remain drug free, Thompson said.
She said the program likely would operate at the site weekday evenings.
Planning members said they would rather see a retail or commercial business move into the location.
The planning commission also agreed to send council its recommendation for the adoption of a proposed comprehensive plan that calls for the downtown area of the city to remain commercial.
Tom Johnston, drug and alcohol commission board president, however, argued the site is surrounded by professional buildings.
Mauk pointed out the life skills program is an allowable use under the city's current zoning rules.
"We understand that," J. Christopher Miller, a planning board member, said. "But it falls outside the comprehensive plan. We've spent a lot of time preparing this plan. We would like to see consistency with it."
Conditional-use permit
Council must now vote on whether to approve Mauk's conditional-use request.
"[The planning commission] set it up to fail by tacking their reservations onto it," Mauk said. "Council won't approve it now and [the planning commission] knows that."
Council also must have a meeting to get public comments about the proposed comprehensive land-use plan before voting on whether to adopt it.