Heated debate on rehab center

Opposition voiced over Margate center’s proposed location

A proposed detox and rehabilitation center elicited impassioned comments from residents and business owners at a recent Margate commission meeting.

“Where they are proposing to put this place is too close to our children,” said resident Richard Santilli. “I know that we need to provide help for those that are on substances and so forth, but I believe the locations that are proposed right now are not where it needs to be.”

The proposed Atlantic Margate Medical Center at 6101 W. Atlantic Blvd. and 513 Melaleuca Drive would be in a former office building, about a half-mile away from Margate Middle School and close to several daycare centers.

A request to rezone the office building properties as community facilities was withdrawn from the Planning and Zoning Board before a recommendation could be made to the City Commission.

City Attorney Eugene Steinfeld said staff received word that the applicants intend to refile the rezoning request.

A letter submitted to the city states that the center would have an occupancy of 32 beds.

“The services will be provided in a safe and secure non-medical/ non-institutional setting, without medical waste or the handling of bodily fluids,” the letter states. “The program is structure[d] such that there is no free time or ability for patients to wander from the building. Only pre-screened patients are allowed within the premises.”

“How will the city ensure the safety of my children?” asked Natalie McNair, owner of the neighboring Time to Care Academy.

She said her daycare center would be forced to close if the medical center is allowed to open.

“My playground fronts this building,” McNair said. “How many parents are going to sign their children up at my center? None.”

Steinfeld advised commissioners to refrain from commenting on the issue since it would disqualify them from discussing it in a potential future quasi-judicial hearing.