Peekskill officials will decide tonight whether or not to appeal last month’s decision by the Planning Commission to approve a methadone clinic on 3 Corporate Dr.
Common Council is scheduled to vote during tonight's meeting on a resolution to allow the law firm of Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker permission to start an Article 78 proceeding against the Planning Commission.
The proceeding would challenge the Planning Commission's decision to approve The Renaissance Project’s proposal for an outpatient therapy program and methadone clinic.
“Whereas, the Common Council, acting in furtherance of its responsibility to determine the policies of the City of Peekskill, finds that it is necessary for the Common Council to challenge the Planning Commission's determination on the ground that the determination is arbitrary and capricious, erroneous as a matter of law and beyond the jurisdiction of the Planning Commission,” a portion of the resolution reads.
The Renaissance Project proposes to combine the outpatient therapy program it currently runs at the Jan Peek House with Hudson Valley Hospital Center’s methadone maintenance center into one facility at 3 Corporate Dr.The facility could serve as many as 275 clients, but it’s not expected that the facility will have that many people at any one time.
Attorney’s representing the Common Council contend that the project is incompatible with the current zoning at the proposed site. Although the zoning allows for professional offices, the scope and usage for the proposed clinic doesn’t fit the city’s definition of a professional office, according to attorneys.
Residents and business owners also worry about the impact the clinic will have on traffic and crime.
The Planning Commission initially approved the site plan in June, but Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster voided the plan because city planning officials failed to notify the Town of Cortlandt of proposal. Officials are required to notify the the because the proposal is within 500 feet of the Cortlandt border.
Because of this oversight, the commission had to reopen the public hearing and approve the plan again.
Mayor Foster has said that the Common Council would explore its legal options after the Planning Commission made its decision last month.
Tonight's Common Council meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. inside city hall.
