JACKSON – Residents have expressed mixed feelings about the proposed operation of a 46-bed post-detoxification rehabilitation facility in the former Pushkin Memorial Home on Pushkin Road in Jackson.
White Oak Center LLC is seeking a use variance from the Zoning Board of Adjustment because the proposed use is not permitted in Jackson’s R-1 residential zone. White Oak is proposing a residential inpatient facility with no outpatient programs in the former assisted living facility.
The proposal was heard by the zoning board on Oct. 3. No decision was reached that evening and the application was carried to the board’s meeting on Feb. 6.
When residents were given an opportunity to air their views on Oct. 3, Vincent Catusco said he would have a problem with as many as 50 people at a time living on a 3.5-acre lot. He said the property on Pushkin Road is not in a commercial area and he said the proposed rehabilitation center is not suitable for a residential zone.
“This is ridiculous. We should not even be having this conversation,” Catusco said.
Board member Kathryn McIlhinney asked Catusco if he has any issues with the residents who live in the boarding house that is operating on the property now.
Catusco said he has complained about individuals walking along the street and on his property.
“There are only 90-something police officers in this town. There are a lot of calls and we need more. (White Oak Center) is bringing in more people, over 400 addicts, known addicts,” he said.
Sean Gertner, the zoning board’s attorney, asked Catusco where he came up with “400 addicts.”
Catusco said 40 clients every 30 to 60 days over 12 months would round up to about 400 clients a year at the rehabilitation center.
Richard Hart said he has lived within a mile-and-a-half of the Pushkin Memorial Home property for 78 years.
White Oak Center “should be directed to the proper zone for the facility (they) want to build; people make decisions on where they are putting their home and where they are going to live. It is important that you maintain the residential section as a residential section.
“I ask (the zoning board) to vote no. I think (the applicant) made a very good presentation, there is a need for the facilities they have, but I think it should be done in the proper zone,” Hart said.
April Andreula has been a resident for 22 years and said she has a family member who has battled addiction, so she “is not new” to this issue.
“We definitely need something like (White Oak Center), but not in a residential area. Also, please remember it is a one-lane road going in and out to that facility. You have traffic going up and down Thompson Bridge Road. (Pushkin Road) is a one-way road, a dead end road,” Andreula said.
She added the proposed facility would add more vehicles in this area of Jackson.
Linda McDonald has been a resident for 25 years and said she is a family member of a recovering heroin addict.
“I speak to police in Jackson, I run family support groups in town. I understand and listen to everything that everybody is saying here, but I think the thing that really needs to be cleared up is when you are talking about a place that (the applicant) is trying to open vs. some of the group homes that are around here, the security (at the group homes) is not the same as the security that is going to be (at the White Oak Center),” McDonald said.
She said the security measures at the White Oak Center would be better than the security measures at group homes.
“I totally believe that in this town we need to get this (facility) because we are trying to help the people who are having drug abuse (issues) … in our town. People are saying (White Oak Center) is going to bring in more, we have enough people. I had drug dealers delivering to my door in the past … there are many people in town who feel that way. If you think there is not drugs and there are not drug dealers in our town, they are here now,” McDonald said.
McDonald said the proposed post-detoxification rehabilitation facility is needed in the area to “save our people.”
“And to understand this is a good thing, this would be a benefit to our town and our community. As a mom, as a recovery coach … I do not speak for all the people here, but we have a problem. I hope we could come to some kind of understanding and all work together,” McDonald said.
