CLEARFIELD – Discovery House came one step closer on Tuesday night to being able to build a new structure in Lawrence Township.
At their regular meeting the Lawrence Township Planning Commission conditionally approved a land development plan for the drug treatment facility. The approval is conditional to a stormwater management plan being submitted to the commission or township supervisors.
“I really went over this,” said Sam Yost, chairman of the LTPC. Yost added that he felt they were in complience of Act 10 as well.
“They’re about as isolated as they can be,” said Yost.
Act 10 is a state law that dictates near what structure a methadone treatment facility can operate, such as churches, public parks, schools, and residential housing as well as other structures. Discovery House was found in violation of Act 10 in its current location in Pike Township. In that instance the Clearfield County Planning Commission determined that Discovery House was within 500 feet of a public park and residential housing.
Discovery House was appealing that decision by the CCPC. Discovery House was also attempting to get occupancy permits for their old site at one point, though it is unclear if that ever occured. Discovery House has been operating out of two trailers on the old site since an arsonist damaged their original building in January.
The new site will be along Airport Road. Yost noted that the closest house is about 3,350 feet away, and that a chapel located at the Sapp Bros. Truck Stop is 1,250 feet away. The new land development will consist of two 75-feet long by 25-feet wide buildings. The area is zoned commercial highway and the facilities will utilize water and sewer from the Clearfield Municipal Authority.
The land was formerly owned by Cress-Wood Co. LLC of Clearfield
The plan has yet to be approved by the Lawrence Township Supervisors.
