Mayor Opposes Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center

Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan has officially registered his opposition to a plan to convert an old church to a 70-bed inpatient drug and alcohol treatment facility, writing in a letter to the city Zoning Hearing Board that “drugs and schools don’t mix.”

The former Calvary Baptist Church at 111 Dewberry Ave. is adjacent to , which had its principal express his objection to the plan in testimony before the board on Monday night.

 “We feel it is not the right location,” said John Petruzzelli under questioning by attorney Blake Marles, counsel for developer Abraham Atiyeh, who wants to convert the old church into a voluntary adult inpatient substance abuse center.

Atiyeh is seeking a special exception to develop the property in an area surrounded by playgrounds, athletic fields, homes, apartments, a public cemetery, and a residence and nursing facility for the elderly.

Petruzzelli was one of three persons testifying Monday at a three-hour plus continuation of a hearing before the city’s Zoning Hearing Board. “We border the facility,” Petruzzelli said, emphasizing that school safety is a major concern, as well as the perception that an unsafe neighborhood would have a detrimental effect on enrollment.

“This is a use permitted in this zoning district with special exception and we meet all the requirements,” said David Harte, vice president of acquisition and land development for Atiyeh’s  Pennsylvania Ventures Capital Inc., who was called by Marles to testify. Harte said no changes would be made to the building exterior, but 6-foot tall fencing, landscape buffer, gated driveways, and a security guard station would be added to keep people off the property. Asked by a Main Street resident how the use will improve property, Harte said there won’t be a parking problem, won’t be a vacant building and it will look exactly as it does currently.

Questioned by Easton attorney Steven Goudsouzian, about the number of security guards for a 70-resident facility, Harte said he did not know how many security guards would be employed, nor did he know where security cameras would be placed. Goudsouzian represents the North Bethlehem Action Committee, a group of citizens opposed to such a facility adjacent to a school.

The committee had asked Mayor John Callahan and city council to formally intervene as a party objector to the location of the facility. The letter from Callahan was entered into the record as an exhibit but not read publicly at the meeting.

Callahan wrote that to grant a special exception, the board must find that the proposed use and location are in harmony with the character of the vicinity and a substantial improvement to property. “For the same reasons that have motivated legislators throughout the land to enact drug free school zone laws and judges throughout the land to uphold them, the location of a 70-bed substance rehabilitation facility is neither harmonious with, nor a substantial improvement to the 700-student high school next door,” the letter read.

Because treatment at the center would be voluntary, Goudsouzian asked Harte how patients could be prevented from leaving and if staff would give a patient the code to open a door to leave. Harte said staff would attempt to dissuade patients from leaving, but would arrange for transportation if they decided to go. Harte said, “My understanding is they are not giving out the code to get out, “ but said “I’m not sure what the operator (of the facility) will do.”

Goudsouzian asked Harte if Malvern Institute, a for-profit inpatient treatment facility in Chester County would operate the facility and if a signed contract will be produced. Harte responded, “Yes, they are going to be the operator,” and a contract “might be produced at a future hearing.”

Marles said Joseph Curran, Malvern’s chief operating officer, who testified at the previous hearing, and another Malvern official would testify at the next hearing at 6 p.m. Nov. 29.