LAWRENCE: Detox center opponents have their say at hearing

By Lea Kahn
   The opponents of a drug and alcohol detoxification center, proposed for an office park at 100 Federal City Road, began to present their case for denying a use variance before the township Zoning Board of Adjustment last week, in the seventh of a series of public hearings.
   Meanwhile, at the same meeting May 11, the Simone Investment Group LLC decided to withdraw a proposed deck from the plan and expand inside the vacant office building — from 12,000 square feet to 17,209 square feet. There would be no additional beds beyond the 38 that are shown in the plan.
   The Simone Investment Group LLC is seeking a use variance to allow Sunrise Detox Center to open a 38-bed residential detoxification center in one of three buildings in the office park. A use variance is needed because a residential detoxification center is not a permitted use in the Professional Office zone.
   An eighth public hearing is planned for the Zoning Board of Adjustment’s meeting Wednesday. The 7:30 p.m. meeting will be held in the Township Council Chambers at the Municipal Building. It is not known whether the application will be completed at the May 25 meeting.
   Michael Mueller, the applicant’s planner, told the zoners last week that his client had withdrawn the 600-square-foot deck in response to neighbors’ concerns. The neighbors had questioned whether the enclosed deck would be designed so clients would not be able to leave the property.
   Mr. Mueller said that in its place, the applicant would expand into the rest of the empty building. No decision has been made for the use of the additional space, although it may be used for recreational purposes for the clients, he said.
   John Simone, a principal in the Simone Investment Group LLC, told the zoners that the space would not be rented out to another detoxification center — even though the PO zone would permit an outpatient detoxification center.
   Then, it was the opponents’ turn to present their case against the use variance application — led by Federal Road City resident Marvin Vanhise. He presented several witnesses, including a support staffer who works at the Princeton House Behavioral Healthcare Center on Mt. Lucas Road in Princeton Township.
   Laura Weber, who is a unit secretary in the detoxification center at Princeton House, said it does not abut residential properties — unlike the proposed Sunrise Detox Center on Federal City Road, which is immediately adjacent to the Federal Hill single-family-home development.
   Ms. Weber, whose brother lives near the proposed Sunrise Detox Center, said clients arrive at Princeton House at any time, although there is typically an influx between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. The 31-bed facility, which is locked for client and staff safety, usually has a few beds available at all times, she added.
   ”My point is, there are beds available in Mercer County, and we take people from across the state,” Ms. Weber said, in response to the applicant’s previous testimony that there is a need for a residential detoxification center.
   William Eggert, a retired Lawrence Township police detective who lives in the Federal Hill subdivision, said crime would be “rampant” in the neighborhood if the Sunrise Detox Center is allowed to open its doors. He said his younger brother has a substance abuse problem and has been violent.
   ”I feel bad for (the clients), but the point is a detoxification center does not belong in a residential neighborhood. They can take knives from the kitchen and use it as a weapon. I lived with one addict. I can’t imagine living with 37 more,” Mr. Eggert said.
   Mr. Eggert also questioned whether Mr. Simone had fully disclosed every aspect of the application. He said a review of state Election Law Enforcement Commission forms revealed that the applicant had not reported every campaign finance contribution for the past four years, as required by a Lawrence Township ordinance.
   Mr. Vanhise agreed that the issue is full disclosure. He said Mr. Simone disclosed two contributions, but when he raised the issue with township officials, 60 additional contributions were disclosed. However, four more were later discovered that had not been filed as part of the application process, he said.
   David Roskos, the zoning board attorney, considered the issue and said none of the campaign contributions were made to the campaigns of Lawrence Township Council members. Township Council appoints the members of the zoning board.
   Daniel Posluszny, who is the Lawrence Township chief of police and who also lives near the proposed Sunrise Detox Center, also spoke out against the application. He made it clear that he was speaking as a citizen and not in his capacity as the police chief.
   Mr. Posluszny said he contacted the Long Hill Township (N.J.) Police Department and the Palm Beach County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Department for crime statistics related to the Sunrise Detox Center, which has residential facilities in those locations.
   Mr. Posluszny said that based on the statistics reported by those two law enforcement agencies, it would be reasonable to expect that Sunrise Detox Center would place a strain on the Lawrence police.
   In the 12 months that Sunrise Detox Center has been in operation in Stirling (Long Hill Township) in 2010, there were 19 calls — 12 for medical emergencies, two for sex offenses, and one each for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, a fire alarm, simple assault, and a burglar alarm, according to the report presented by Mr. Posluszny.
   The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department responded to 103 calls at the Sunrise Detox Center between Oct. 1, 2007and Dec. 31, 2010. It included 18 calls for disturbances, six calls for missing persons, and three for assaults. Attorney David Kenney, who represents Sunrise, pointed out that under Florida law, an assault does not necessarily mean someone has been injured.
   ”I am trying to show there will be a strain on public safety,” Mr. Posluszny replied. “The information is (there) for the Zoning Board of Adjustment to make an educated decision.”