Bayville Detox Center Hearing Moved To February

BERKELEY, NJ — A public hearing on a proposed residential behavioral health facility/detox center was carried to February by the Berkeley Township Zoning Board.

At the meeting Wednesday night, the Board and the project's attorney agreed to hold the hearing at the Feb. 8 meeting.

The reason was that three members of the eight-person board were absent that night, and the project needed a supermajority in order to be approved.

That meant that one "no" vote and the project would be declined that night, Chairman Richard Elliott explained.

The hearing was moved to February instead of January because the first meeting of the new year is the reorganization meeting and already had a full agenda.

Elliott told the packed room that the developers would not be required to re-notice the hearing, so urged them all to remember the date and to contact the zoning office with any questions.

"Everybody's questions will be heard and will be answered," he said. "Nobody will be ignored."

Quantum Behavioral Health is proposing a detox center at 6 Allard Road, where Bayville Manor was, in the highway business zoning district where residential behavioral healthcare facilities are not allowed.

They are also seeking a number of variances. Read More: Proposed Detox Center To Go Before Berkeley Zoning Board

This would be Quantum's second location, as they currently operate an outpatient facility in South Toms River. The Bayville location would serve as a companion site to the South Toms River facility.

While some residents have voiced concerns about a detox center in their neighborhood, saying that it will bring criminals to the area, officials with Quantum have denied those claims.

The facility has a prescreening process, and is a private company taking commercial insurance. Most of the residents, officials said, are older adults, with jobs and families.

"We're just here to help the local community," Justin Sabatino, Quantum COO, told Patch. Read More: Detox Facility Will Be A Benefit To Bayville Community, Director Says

The hearing is now set for Feb. 8, 2023, at 6:30 p.m., 627 Pinewald Keswick Road.