Disputed Drug Rehab Center in Gwinnett Debated

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- Several Gwinnett County residents, including a state lawmaker, are speaking out against plans for a residential drug treatment facility in unincorporated Lawrenceville.

But they'll have to wait several months to see if their concerns were enough to derail the facility.

Gwinnett County commissioners held a public hearing Tuesday night on the proposal, for 1680 Chandler Rd., the Gwinnett Daily Post reports.

Fresh Start Foundations, of Loganville, wants the county to rezone the property from residential to commercial, according to a petition filed with the county.

Its plans call for five new buildings on the roughly 61-acre property. According to the petition, the facility would offer counseling and therapy in a drug-free environment for people working to kick drug addictions.

"It’s been all over the news, it’s been all over the community (and) it’s been all over the state how bad the heroin use and the opiate use is in our community, and I want to do something about it," director Chad Millsaps said at the meeting, according to the Daily Post. "I want to stand up for these people because I’m one of them."

Millsaps told commissioners he went through addiction recovery four years ago.

Several residents from the Lawrenceville and Grayson area spoke against the plan, though, expressing security and property-value concerns.

“This area is completely residential, and such a rezoning would adversely affect our community in property values and personal piece of mind and safety issues,” said state Rep. Joyce Chandler, R-Grayson, said at the meeting.

Commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash noted that the commission can't act on the request until at least September.

State law on drug treatment facilities requires a public hearing be held at least six months before they can be approved.

To read the original post in the Gwinnett Daily Post, click here.