A proposal to open a methadone treatment clinic on West King Street has ignited controversy in West Augustine, drawing concern from some community leaders and members.
The matter centers on a vacant commercial building at 840 West King Street, where New Season, a Boca Raton-based drug treatment provider, plans to operate a methadone clinic.
Rob Nimmons of the West Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency alerted residents to the plan in a recent Facebook post, arguing that the use may conflict with existing planning and zoning rules governing the area.
According to Nimmons, the property lies within the West Augustine CRA Overlay District and is currently designated for retail and shopping uses only.
“The West Augustine CRA is deeply concerned that this facility could be detrimental to a community that already faces vulnerabilities, including limited resources and a high presence of elders and children, to say the least,” he wrote.
County planning documents state that the operator is requesting as a “minor modification” to the West King Street Planned Unit Development (PUD).
The modification would clarify that a treatment center is an allowed general business and commercial use within the PUD.
In their application, the developers assert that the clinic qualifies.
“The approved PUD text spoke of the use being generally for a grocery and other retail use but also allowed general business uses which within our code allows treatment centers,” it reads.
The paperwork states that the applicants have an existing location in a comparable area in St. Johns County at 3574 US-1 South.
The new proposal is scheduled for review by the St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA) on January 15.
The West Augustine CRA will also host a separate community meeting on Monday, January 12, at 7 p.m. at the Solomon Calhoun Center to discuss the matter.
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