Proposed Detox Center To Go Before Berkeley Zoning Board This Week

BERKELEY, NJ — A proposed residential behavioral healthcare facility/detox center will be heard before the Berkeley Zoning Board on Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m.

The hearing was originally planned for December, but moved to February as three members of the eight-person board were absent that night.

Quantum Behavioral Health will be seeking a use variance and site plan approval for the proposed facility at 6 Allard Rd. in Bayville.

It is in the highway business zoning district where residential behavioral healthcare facilities are not allowed.

The applicant is also seeking the following variances:

1. The maximum number of patients shall not exceed 50, where 58 beds are existing and proposed.
2. Minimum front yard buffer of 25 feet where none is existing or proposed.
3. Minimum distance of 1,000 feet to a residential district or use where 82.8 feet is proposed.
4. Minimum distance of 1,000 feet to the property line of any place of assembly.
5. Maximum of one freestanding sign along U.S. Route 9, where 2 are existing and proposed to remain.
6. Minimum off-street parking of 92 parking spaces where 38 are proposed, an increase of 18 parking spaces from the 20 that currently exist.

While some have voiced concerns that a detox center will bring criminals to the area, officials with Quantum disagree.

Before patients can even get to the door, they have to go through a prescreen process over the phone, Quantum COO Justin Sabatino previously told Patch.

The prescreening process asks potential patients about their legal history, occupation, demographics and more. Criteria has to be met before a patient can come in.

This, plus the fact that Quantum is a private facility taking commercial insurance, the likelihood of them taking in violent criminals is slim, Sabatino said. Read more: Detox Facility Will Be A Benefit To Bayville Community, Director Says

According to the most recent state data on substance abuse, there were 8,396 Ocean County residents admitted for substance abuse treatment in 2019. Most used heroin as their primary drug, with the next-highest being alcohol, according to the data.

Thirty-five percent of those were employed full- or part-time, and 41 percent had no legal issues, according to the data.

Quantum currently operates an outpatient facility in South Toms River. The Bayville location would be a companion to that site; offering inpatient treatment.

The hearing will be held at Berkeley Town Hall, 627 Pinewald Keswick Rd.