Wilmington Detox Facility Backers Considering Other Sites For Controversial Proposal

WILMINGTON, MA -- Paul Kneeland, a local developer and one of the backers of a controversial plan to build a drug treatment center at 362 Middlesex Avenue in north Wilmington, said he is considering other sites for the 48-bed facility. In a memo to the Wilmington Board of Selectmen, Town Manager Jeffrey Hull said he had received a note from Hull about his plans to look at other sites and that he was "very mindful of the concerns expressed by residents at the board's meeting on September 26."

In presenting his memo to selectmen, Hull did not elaborate or say whether Kneeland was considering other sites in Wilmington. Separately, Hull presented a finding from the town solicitor that the facility was allowed under the town's zoning laws and the ultimate decision on whether or no to allow it to move forward at 362 Middlesex Avenue would fall to the Wilmington Zonig Board of Appeals.

Subscribe to Wilmington Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

There was no discussion among the five-member board of selectment about the proposal at Tuesday night's meeting. Hull also formally presented an email from David Ray announcing his plan to withdraw from the group proposing the detox center. Ray released the note publicly last month after questions were raised about his history in the addiction treatment industry.

The remaining partners have not withdrawn the proposal and Ray indicated in his note that they plan to move forward without him. But Kneeland's correspondence with Hull suggests the group is buckling under the pressure of a vocal group of residents that oppose the project. Kneeland is a Wilmington developer and liquor store owner whose current address is listed as Juno Beach, Florida. He is chief executive of the Channel Building Company which has taken on a number of area commercial real estate projects.

The proposal to build a 48-bed detox center has divided Wilmington residents. On one are residents who argue that the center is needed in Wilmington, which, like dozens of other Massachusetts towns, is facing an opioid epidemic. Wilmington Police have responded to 40 reported overdoses so far this year. On the other are North Wilmington residents who live near the lot and have raised concerns about the quality of live and the impact on property values, as well as questions about the proposal's backers.

Last month more than 100 residents attended the selectmen's meeting to voice opinions on the project, which Ray was publicly presenting for the first time. Since that meeting, an online petition has been circulated and, as of Tuesday, had more than 490 signatures opposing the project.

Before the public comment portion of the meeting, Selectmen Chairman Michael L. Champoux asked people to limit comments on the proposal and avoid a "rehash" of the meeting from two weeks ago since there was no proposal before the board.

Photo of site for proposed drug treatment facility by Dave Copeland.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).