Hours Of Heated Public Comment On Wheaton Drug Treatment Center

WHEATON, IL — Jeers, laughter, applause, and tears punctuated the three-hour long meeting held by Wheaton's Zoning and Planning Committee Tuesday to discuss Haymarket Center's proposed drug treatment center. More than two hours of passionate public comment addressed such matters as zoning rules, public safety concerns, and the dangers of DuPage County's increasing opioid use.

Before the public comment portion of the meeting began, board Chairman Scott Weller reminded those in attendance that the subject of the meeting was a proposed text amendment to the city's zoning ordinance to allow Haymarket Center to include a 16-bed inpatient facility in addition to its outpatient services.

Weller reminded the speakers to keep the zoning issue in mind, despite what he referred to as the recent politicization of the matter.

Still, it proved difficult for many who spoke to separate emotions and fears from the logistics of zoning.

Passionate Public Comment From Residents

John Reimers, who has lived in Wheaton for 45 years, was the first to speak. Reimers, a recovering alcoholic, said he has been sober for more than 19 years. He credits his sobriety to places he said were similar to Haymarket Center. In an emotional appeal, Reimers shared the story of a friend he lost to alcohol abuse who did not have access to such treatment.

Other residents who support the Haymarket Center proposal shared similar stories of lost loved ones and many of those opposed to Haymarket Center expressed their sympathy for opioid users, acknowledging the need to address the ongoing epidemic.

Several residents who spoke out against Haymarket mentioned the location's proximity to Kindercare, an early childhood education facility and daycare. Two older children got up to speak and addressed their own fears of having an inpatient drug treatment center close to restaurants and a movie theater they frequent.

Additional comments included concerns about property values and overall safety in the community. One resident who supports the Haymarket Center plans mentioned that people from DuPage County Jail, which is located in Wheaton, are paroled to the city daily.

At one point, resident Martin Atwell urged those on both sides of the aisle to "try to take emotion out of this and to consider this as [truly] what it is, which is a zoning request." Citing the current zoning code for the C5 commercial district, Atwell said, "this is not the right location according to the rules we have set out for our city and our residents."

Shawn Collins, a lawyer representing some of the families who live in Danada East, where the zoning amendment is proposed, said "if a place can be found in the City of Wheaton that is consistent with their 20-year zoning plan [the families] would support it. They would not only support it; they would gratefully support it."

Haymarket Center's Rebuttal Includes Apology

When Haymarket Center gave its rebuttal comments, CEO Dr. Dan Lustig contended that the issue was less about zoning for residents and more about the stigma of an inpatient drug treatment center. Lustig said, "I promise you if I [were] opening up a cancer treatment center or a cardiac care we would not be hearing any of these issues."

Roger Romanelli, executive director of the not-for-profit Fulton Market Association addressed residents' concerns about the drug center affecting property values. Romanelli mentioned that Haymarket's 400-bed Chicago facility is near some of the most expensive condominiums in the city. He added that "McDonald's headquarters has relocated to about 800 feet from Haymarket."

By the time Mary Dickson, an attorney representing Haymarket Center, got up to speak it was more than two hours into the meeting.

Dickson began by apologizing for Haymarket sending a mailer to Wheaton residents that attributed a quote to DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen saying he was "supportive" of the proposal. Earlier in the meeting, Jorgensen's daughter, Maggie spoke on his behalf to address this claim, calling it "a mistake by Haymarket Center."

Jorgensen added that Dr. Jorgensen "does not know, nor has he ever endorsed Haymarket Center or its proposal to open a treatment center in Wheaton."

Dickson admitted the mistake and said, "It was my definition that those letters were supportive."

Dickson was met with laughter later when she forgot the name of the manager of KinderCare and when she told the board, "I don't think you have an option; I think you need to make the text amendment."

She went on to say that inpatient and outpatient treatments were compatible uses for a facility. "Your code says outpatient treatment is permitted," she said, and asserted that "the opposition to the special use has to do with the facility as a whole."

Taking a cue from Dr. Lustig's comments, Dickson said, "Intensive cancer treatment saves lives; so does this."

The zoning and planning board is expected to vote on the Haymarket Center matter Tues. Jan. 23 at 7 p.m.

>>Image credit: Lisa Farver, Patch