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Drug rehab center expansion approved for Spring Hill

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: April 13, 2009

Updated: 04/13/2009 11:53 am

BROOKSVILLE - More than a dozen residents on Monday morning protested the expansion of a drug rehabilitation program in their rural neighborhood off Cessna Drive in Spring Hill.
Most said there are already enough problems from residents of the center, who are being treated for alcohol and drug addiction. To add more treatment buildings would only make a bad situation worse, they said.
But planning and zoning commissioners voted 5-0 to recommend granting the developer of Suncoast Rehabilitation Center a special exception use permit to add three new buildings on the 3-acre site, two of which would be patient dormitories.
As a condition, the developer will build a six-foot block wall around the property that borders peoples' homes. A privacy fence would surround other parts of the property.
Planning Chairman Robert Widmar also urged the developer to hold an informal meeting with residents to try and allay their "fear, doubt and misunderstanding."
There was a lot of resident fear present during Monday's zoning meeting.
Although clients are supposed to be supervised inside the facility, "I've already seen some of the rehab people come down the road," said Denise Budd, who lives off Cessna.
Budd said she's seen them looking at neighbors' mailboxes.
Jeanine Bender, whose property abuts the western edge of the facility, said she too has seen them on her property.
And, now that construction crews have removed the trees shielding her home, she said she now has an unobstructed view of the rehab center.
Other neighbors said the facility will become a haven for drug dealers who will arrange to meet at the facility and conduct deals.
Suncoast Rehabilitation Center will add two new dormitories to the property, which would expand the facility from 22 beds to 54. Also planned are a new administrative office, basketball court and swimming pool.
The president of the center, Eric Mitchell, said these rehab patients are there voluntarily and not court-ordered.
The number of staffers will be increased from 12 to 25, he said. Mitchell said population growth necessitates the expansion. He stressed there has been no criminal activity since the center opened last summer. He also assured neighbors that patients will not be allowed to roam the streets.
"Nobody leaves the facility unless accompanied by staff," he said.
The site is located off Cessna Drive, which is about one mile from U.S. 19 and reachable from Toucan Trail.
The center was formerly an assisted living facility for seniors, but the owner sold the property last year to the present owners and turned it into a drug-alcohol rehab center.
Christine Tretter is afraid property values, already in decline, will plummet once word gets out.
"How are we going to sell our houses when they know there's a drug rehab center 250 feet away?" she asked.
Mitchell said the center would have the opposite effect and "run drug dealers out of the area, not in."
No drugs or alcohol is allowed on the premises. The center is based on a holistic system and stresses vitamins, exercise and counseling, he said.
There will be no Baker Act clients and the average stay is about three to four months.
Mitchell said the facility will add jobs and contribute to the economy by paying in excess of $100,000 in impact fees.
Planning Commissioner Thomas Comunale said the area surrounding the rehab center has changed and questioned the zoning transition of the property from an assisted living facility for seniors to a drug treatment center.
"Is this bending (the zoning) a little bit?" he asked.
But Planning and Zoning Director Ron Pianta said the county in 2008 determined that the designation of the property as a "congregate care facility" is not limited to seniors and retirees but for treatment facilities of other types.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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