Drug treatment clinic approved

Erin Neff

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999 | 11:12 a.m.

A drug treatment clinic for pregnant women and young mothers was granted approval Monday to move and expand its operations despite pleas from neighbors and concerns about the precedent established with the approved zoning change.

The Healthy Families Project was given the go-ahead to build a 17,000-square-foot rehabilitation center on the northwest corner of Michael Way and Smoke Ranch Road.

Citing concerns about the zoning, but not the project, Mayor Jan Laverty Jones was the lone dissenter.

When the project was first proposed, more than 500 residents sent formal protest to the council. Many backed down, however, when they learned the clinic already exists in their neighborhood and they never even noticed it. The clinic is now on county land 1 1/2 blocks away from the proposed site for the expanded facility.

The council held the item from its last meeting so that residents could meet with representatives of Healthy Families and developer Zankan Trust and Madsen Family.

Residents expressed concerns ranging from crime and traffic in their neighborhood to a "what if" scenario.

Under the zoning change from residential estates to civic, many felt something worse could move into the site if Healthy Families ever left.

"We're trying to get the best protection for the 'what if,' " said City Councilman Larry Brown, who had been working with neighbors and the developers to reach a compromise.

The city is considering an ordinance that would require similar service providers to be at least 1,500 feet from existing residential areas.