DENNISVILLE – Dennis Township Committee approved on second reading April 10 an ordinance to regulate the siting of methadone clinics within the municipality.
The ordinance amends the definitions section of the zoning code chapter by adding the definition for “methadone clinic” as a “clinic which has been legally established to provide outpatient methadone maintenance services.”
Other provisions of the ordinance mandate that the definition of methadone clinic “shall be deemed to be a business or commercial operation or functional equivalent thereof” and shall not be construed for purposes of zoning to be ancillary or an adjunct to a doctor’s professional office.
Thus, the siting of a methadone clinic could only be within zones designated for business or commercial use.
Further, the ordinance prohibits siting of any methadone clinic in an area that is defined as “residential” or even “mixed/commercial use.”
Mayor Zeth Matalucci provided background to the necessity of the ordinance by noting, “We can’t ban outright any methadone clinic to be located within our township under state law. However, this ordinance prohibits siting or operation of such a clinic in any area that is zoned residential.
“The ordinance also ensures such a clinic cannot be located in any mixed commercial area. So, with this ordinance, we are able to steer where these clinics go.
“We wanted to squash any rumors with this measure since some residents were concerned they might get a methadone clinic in their neighborhood which is absolutely not the case.”
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.
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