Opposition to drug-treatment facility’s location is growing
The former Advance Auto Parts store in South Clinton is the proposed non-residential substance-abuse treatment center. The location is also considered a “gateway” to downtown Clinton. (photo:Ken Leinart )
In November, BHG LXIV, LLC, doing business as BHG Clinton Treatment Center, filed a “certificate of need” with the Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency for a facility at 180 Clinch Ave. – the former Advance Auto Parts store in South Clinton.
The city of Clinton cannot stop the facility from opening, but that doesn’t mean city officials can’t protest it doing so.
And it’s not the facility itself the city is protesting, but the location.
With two parks — a proposed park by the city near Carden Farms, and Aspire Park — less than one-half mile away — and the new U.S. 25W bridge opening across the Clinch River, the location is seen as one of the “gateways” into downtown Clinton.
And downtown Clinton is undergoing a refurbishing of its own.
Clinton Councilman Zack Farrar said, “As a father and husband who loves his family and fellow citizens … Isn’t there another location and not the front door of our city?”
The City Council passed Resolution 807 urging state regulators not to approve the proposed site.
The matter was also brought before County Commission Monday night — by Commissioner and Anderson County Chamber of Commerce President Rick Meredith — in support of the city’s resolution. There was little discussion.
Commissioner Catherine Denenberg noted, “Just to say that we want a drug treatment center … What other information do we have that will help us (the county) make a good decision on this?”
Meredith replied that the proposal came from “a big company out of Texas” and the application went through the state.
Meredith also said that it wasn’t the treatment center that was being opposed, just the location.
“The city feels like it’s not saying, ‘Don’t come,’ but with the new bridge and the development in the area it’s just not appropriate right there,” Meredith said.
The measure passed County Commission unanimously.
Meredith said the state is set to review the application in mid-January and that a hearing has been set for Feb. 24 in regards to approving the facility.
Attempts were made to speak with the “regulatory practice manager” in Texas about the proposed center, but a response was not forthcoming.