Methadone Clinic Lawsuit Leads to Chairman Resignation
The chairman of Peekskill’s Planning Commission turned in his resignation last week, a day after the Common Council unanimously voted to take the commission to court over its approval of a controversial methadone clinic.
Dwight Douglas, who has been on the commission since 2005 and served as chairman since May 2010, made it clear in his resignation letter that he was bowing out “in response to the Council’s ill-advised and misdirected action in authorizing the filing of an Article 78” to overturn the commission’s unanimous blessing of the drug treatment facility off Highland Avenue last month.
“My decision is in no way intended to reflect the views of the other commission members,”Douglasstated. “The commission as presently constituted consists of a highly qualified and capable membership well able to carry on without me and make up their own minds as to their willingness to continue to serve the city in this important and seemingly unappreciated role.”
Mayor Mary Foster maintained taking legal action against the Planning Commission, whose members are appointed by the council, was “not an easy step to take.”
“We walk a very fine line and we do not try to step on each other,” Foster said. “We generally respect the decisions of the Planning Commission but sometimes we just don’t end up in the same place. Our concern here is to uphold zoning.”
The Common Council retained legal counsel in October and sent a letter to the commission “strongly urging” them to turn down the application of the Renaissance Project to assume control over a clinic for up to 275 patients that has been run for more than 20 years by Hudson Valley Hospital Center in a trailer.
Attorney Robert Spolzino argued the clinic was not permitted in the M-2 Zoning District but Douglas said the city’s building inspector had determined the facility was a permitted use. The commission also ignored requests from 1,000 petitioners to give the clinic a thumbs down.
Wendy Kelly, who led the petition drive, applauded the Common Council for taking a legal stand against the Planning Commission.
“It’s fantastic. This is great,” Kelly said at City Hall after last week’s meeting. “After the last meeting I wasn’t going to get my hopes up again.”
The Planning Commission actually approved the clinic twice. Its first vote in June was rescinded when city officials failed to legally notify neighboring Cortlandt. The proposed clinic would be open daily on Corporate Drive from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. to dispense drugs and provide counseling. It would remain open until 7 p.m. for administrative duties.
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