An audience consisting of nearly 50 residents were present last night at Kittanning Hose Co. #4 fire hall to hear the decision of the Kittanning Zoning Hearing Board regarding the request by the Armstrong Indiana Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission to use the First Church of God Woodward Avenue property for a recovery center.
The Kittanning Borough Zoning Hearing Board dealt a blow last night to the Armstrong Indiana Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission by denying their request to use the Woodward Avenue First Church of God property as a recovery center.
The decision of the three-man panel came after two separate hearings consisting of over four hours of testimony regarding the proposed use of the facility. Last night, Chairman Robert Smith, and fellow members Tom Close and Stanley Lunsford convened at the Kittanning Hose Co. #4 fire hall in front of approximately 50 individuals in the audience. Shortly after the start of the meeting, the Board went into executive session for over a half-hour to discuss the matter.
Smith read a prepared decision.
“The evidence that we’ve heard indicates that the intended use as a recovery center is to include the facility will be utilized by individuals with substance use disorders. The facility will have educational resources. The facility will have skill-enhancement resources. The facility will be staffed by Pennsylvania State Certified Recovery Specialists employed by the Armstrong Indiana Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission. And the facility will be a place where individuals with substance use disorder will be able to improve their life skills, receive guidance for job readiness. The facility will provide individuals with recovery from substance use disorders with access to fitness equipment, basketball court, to support a holistic approach that is optimal and needed in long-term recovery. The facility will provide individuals in recovery with life-skills training and a computer center. The facility will provide additional training such as life and social skills, nutrition, budgeting, shopping, how to do laundry and so on. All of the letters of endorsement that have been attached to the applications, name the facility as a recovery center. And also the handout entitled Armstrong Indiana Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission Inc. meeting held on November 29, 2018, information regarding the purchase of the Woodward Avenue Church of God handed out at a public meeting by Kami Anderson, the executive director of the Armstrong Indiana Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission, with questions and answers that lists the same uses.”
Smith said the Board determined that a recovery center is not a social hall or community center as provided for in the zoning ordinance.
Kittanning Zoning Hearing Board Chairman Robert Smith reviews his findings with Solicitor James Favero before sharing it with the audience at a public meeting last night.
“The intended use is that of a recovery center to be utilized by individuals with substance use disorders,” Smith continued. “This is not a principle permitted use in either zoning district - R2 or B3. It is also the opinion of the board that the use may have a negative effect on the general health, safety, welfare and convenience of the residents of the neighborhood and surrounding areas. That the taxable value of the homes and properties of the neighborhood and surrounding areas could also be adversely affected.”
Although Smith stated the value of homes could be affected, he offered no direct evidence that was presented to support the Board’s decision. Smith then made the motion.
“I would like to make a motion that the application of the Armstrong Indiana Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission be denied as the intended use as a recovery center does not meet the definition of a social hall or a community club, so that the intended use does not meet the requirement of a principle permitted use in the B3 zone or a special use under the R2 zone, nor has the applicant met its burden to be granted a variance.”
The motion was seconded by Close and Lunsford agreed.
Board Solicitor James Favero said the Board is obligated to provide a written decision to the Drug and Alcohol Commission within 45 days as provided by law.
Commission Executive Director Kami Anderson said she wasn’t surprised that their request was denied.
“We will discuss with our attorneys what will be our next move,” Anderson said following the meeting. She indicated that the Commission will seek legal remedy to overturn the decision by the Zoning Hearing Board.
The First Church of God officials have previously stated that they intend to vacate the building by January 2020 regardless of the decision that was rendered last night.