A residential substance abuse treatment program is told it cannot move into a Strathmore Avenue house.
By MEGAN SCOTT
Published June 5, 2003
OLDSMAR - A residential treatment program for adults with substance abuse and emotional disorders will have to find another place for its new home.
Alternative Treatment International Inc. learned Wednesday that it would not be allowed to operate a residential treatment program in a house at 360 Strathmore Ave. as a replacement for a similar facility in Clearwater.
Running the treatment program in that neighborhood would violate city zoning restrictions, City Attorney Tom Trask wrote in a letter to ATI officials.
The Strathmore Avenue home is in a neighborhood of about 40 homes that sell for $300,000 to $400,000. It is zoned estate-residential.
The permitted uses under that zoning district are single-family, detached residences and customary other uses such as garages, pools or gazebos.
According to the Oldsmar Land Development Code, the definition of family is "one or more persons occupying a single dwelling unit, provided that such family shall not contain over three persons, unless all persons are related by law, blood, adoption or marriage."
Alternative Treatment International had told city officials it planned to treat six or seven residents a month.
"I'm not in a disagreement with the facility," Oldsmar Mayor Jerry Beverland said. "Put it where it is zoned. You put these facilities in a residential area, I'm not going to support that."
Dennis Pemberton, an attorney for Alternative Treatment International, said the program does not plan to fight the decision.
The Strathmore Avenue facility would have replaced one on S Duncan Avenue in Clearwater.
"It's been such a hassle," Pemberton said. "I'm pretty sure that my client is going to walk away from it. They could fight it but sometimes it's just better retreating."
Julia Stewart, the company's chief executive officer, said ATI was only looking into buying the property and had never purchased it.
Residents, though, were still worried. They had petitioned against the proposed move and had lobbied city officials to deny ATI a license to operate in a residential neighborhood. Some even had yellow signs in their yards to voice their opposition.
"I was happy they weren't coming here," said Stephen Socolow, one of the residents. "I didn't think this was an appropriate place for them to be allowed to go. This is a high-priced residential neighborhood. We don't allow businesses in here."
