Council again denies proposal for West Easton drug treatment center
A controversial proposal from developer Abe Atiyeh for a 176-bed drug treatment facility in West Easton was again denied by borough council despite updates to the plan based on recommendations from a Northampton County judge.
Atiyeh is seeking a conditional use permit for the facility at 92 Main St. in the former Chipman Knitting Mills/Reda Sports Complex for more than a year.
Borough officials denied the project in March 2018, citing safety concerns.
Atiyeh appealed in Northampton County Court in July 2018, with the proposal going before Judge Jennifer Sletvold in April. Her ruling affirmed some of the borough’s concerns while dismissing others
Atiyeh updated the plan based on Sletvold’s recommendations to address the safety concerns, yet it still wasn’t enough to get approval from borough council on Monday evening.
Council voted 5-1 to deny the conditional use permit.
The motion was introduced by Councilman Robert Lewis and seconded by Councilman Peter Mammana.
Council President Paul James, Mammana, Lewis, Janie Jones Brown and Daivd Bolash voted to deny the permit.
Council Vice President Matthew Dees was the lone member to vote against denying the application.
There was no discussion following the vote.
Council Attorney Steven Goudsouzian declined to comment after the vote.
Atiyeh, who attended Monday night’s meeting, said he will again appeal the decision in Northampton County Court.
That’s in addition to a lawsuit Atiyeh filed in federal court in February, alleging the borough’s zoning ordinance and council’s rejection of the proposed facility illegally discriminated against people with addictions.
Atiyeh said a court date for that case is scheduled for the end of the year.
Atiyeh believes council’s decision on Monday will help to decide the federal case in his favor.
“I’m surprised. A judge ordered it to go back before council,” said Atiyeh, who followed Sletvold’s safety recommendations in his latest 32page plan, which included hiring a third-party bonded security company and installing a perimeter fence around the property.
The updated plan calls for an admission policy requiring patients to sign a contract agreeing to be picked up by a third party when they leave the facility.
“This is good evidence. It will help us in federal court. It’s discrimination, discrimination against a disabled class,” Atiyeh said Monday night.
His attorney, James Preston of Bethlehem, could not immediately be reached for comment.
In addition to security concerns, construction of the drug treatment center also has posed a threat to the borough’s oldest house, the historic Odenwelder farmstead which abuts the three-story factory where Atiyeh wants to put the treatment center.
In May, Atiyeh filed a permit to demolish the farmhouse saying it was in poor condition and blocked access to the building .
He put the permit on hold after learning about the history of the building from Mayor Daniel DePaul.
Atiyeh has been in discussions with borough officials about moving the house.