Greenwood Elementary School serves both the Brookeville and Olney communities and is nestled in a family friendly neighborhood of single-family homes. For someone buying a home in that area, you would think it’s that perfect neighborhood where kids can walk to school or perhaps walk freely around the neighborhood without heightened safety concerns, however something is about to change.
The community discovered earlier this year that two homes sharing a property line with Greenwood Elementary School, were acquired by an out-of-state entity USR Holdings LLC (USR). USR is converting the homes to two ASAM Level 3.5 Substance Use Disorder Treatment centers and operating as one entity, The Freedom Center. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Level 3.5 is “designed for people with serious psychological or social issues that require 24-hour oversight and are at risk for imminent harm.”
When residents in that Brookeville community purchased their homes in the R-200 residential zone (residential, one-family, detached), they certainly did not envision the community being transformed to include a substance addiction treatment center. Allowing an out-of-state corporation to purchase these homes and convert to treatment centers under one name does not make sense or good zoning policy. According to information from the community group organizing a petition effort and requesting amendments to the zoning code, USR originally requested a “commercial use and occupancy” permit which was voided by the Department of Permitting Services.
Drug and alcohol rehabilitation in our country has never been so important and it’s a key component to a compassionate and functioning society, however that type of facility does not belong next door to any school or even in a neighborhood that is zoned for single family homes. In addition to the two homes being converted, the same owners purchased a third adjacent parcel of land that can be developed at a later time and there is no limit on how many properties they would be allowed to purchase in the neighborhood.
A community meeting was held in late March at the request of residents and Councilwoman Dawn Luedtke (County Council District 7) and other county leaders addressed hundreds of concerned residents in attendance. Representatives from The Freedom Center did not attend but provided the Councilwoman Luedtke with further information on how the center will operate. There was no good news for residents coming out of that meeting and they were told essentially what is done, is done and to be respectful of those in recovery. Even if a Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) were to be approved, these properties would be grandfathered in allowing The Freedom Center to still operate. Residents were also made aware that there are protections for such residential group homes under the Fair Housing Act.
Residents of Montgomery County deserve better than for this to happen in any neighborhood or near any school. Parents of school children should not have to be burdened with additional concerns of safety when the child is in school, near the school or in their neighborhood. Since patients of these facilities can stay for up to 30 days, these two buildings may have over 190 patients who cycle through each year plus staff and visitors. Would you want this to happen in your neighborhood or next door to a school?
How to help:
Please consider signing the petition to stop these facilities. Your neighborhood could be next! Petition link
Help spread the word by sharing this video, the petition link and/or making a donation for social media advertising. Donations are made to MCGOP and are not tax deductible.
Related links:
Website link No To Drug Rehab Near Greenwood
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Laura Benson is the MCGOP Finance Chair, Executive Board Member and Legislative District Chair for LD14. She can be reached at [email protected]