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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-12-22 Planning Commission Minutes Commissioners Present: AJ Schrantz; David Hall; Terry Hale; Rachel Arthur; Frank Neice Commissioners Absent: Kevin Meyer, Chairman; Van Taylor Town Staff: Caroline Smith, Planner/Zoning Administrator; Call to Order Mr. Hale called the Planning Commission to order at 6:00 p.m. Roll Call of Commission A quorum was determined with five commissioners present. Review and Approval of Minutes Mr. Hale asked if there were any comments on the November meeting minutes. Mr. Hall motioned to approve the meeting minutes and Mr. Schrantz seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote. Public Hearing A proposed zoning amendment to section 4.4.2-2.9 (f) Commercial and Civic Uses, to add “Daycare Centers” as a Special Exception in the R-3, Multi-Family Residential District. Ms. Smith stated that town staff has initiated a zoning amendment to add daycare center as a special exception to the R-3 district. She explained that daycare center is already defined in the zoning ordinance. Ms. Smith said that adding daycare center to the zoning ordinance would bridge the current gap in childcare within the district. She recommended that the defined guidelines present in other sections of the zoning ordinance be included in the amendment. Mr. Hale opened the public hearing. Mr. Schrantz asked if other places wanted to have a daycare center, would they need to go through a special exception process. Mr. Smith responded that they would need a special exception. Mr. Gerhz, a representative from Memorial Baptist church spoke to the importance of licensed and qualified childcare within the Town of Pulaski. He stated that the church would like to provide a licensed daycare program. With no further questions, Mr. Hale closed the public hearing. Mr. Schrantz stated that he would like to see a floor plan when the church comes forward with a special exception request. Mr. Hall motioned to recommend approval to Town Council the zoning amendment with the attached general standards and Mr. Schrantz seconded the motion. The motion passed on the following roll call vote: Chairman Meyer – Absent Mr. Hale – Aye Mr. Hall – Aye Mr. Neice - Aye Mr. Schrantz – Aye Ms. Arthur - Aye Mr. Taylor – Absent A request from Savida Health for a Special Exception for property located at 1042 E. Main Street, [tax parcel(s) 072-140-109G] in the B-2, General Business District, for hospital or health centers, which includes, “alcohol, substance abuse and drug treatment centers”. Ms. Smith stated that the Town has received a special exception request from Savida Health for a hospital or health center. She explained that the applicant stated that they do not dispense or store medication on site. They are an outpatient medical and counseling practice and are designated as a POBAT (preferred office-based addiction treatment) Center. Mr. Hale opened up the floor for a public hearing. Ms. White, a representative from Savida Health, stated that Savida Health is an outpatient, office-based clinic, similar to primary care physicians. She stated that Savida Health can treat all addictions and that Savida’s main treatment is prescribing Suboxone and is council driven. She explained that the facilities do not store medications on site and that Savida Health primarily prescribes Suboxone. Mr. Schrantz asked how Savida Health differs from Pulaski Medical. Ms. White explained that Savida Health does not dispense or prescribe methadone. Mr. Schrantz asked if there would be patient sharing or a working relationship between the two companies. Ms. White stated that through the ARTS program patients are not allowed to use both services. She explained that methadone has its need for people, but that Savida Health does not store the medications on site and does not utilize daily treatment. Mr. Schrantz asked what the difference was between methadone and suboxone. Ms. White explained that methadone is an addicting substance of its own and causes a high, and that the medications Savida Health prescribes will not give the person a high. She stated that she brought a counselor and marketing director from the company to come speak as well because she wanted to emphasize the counseling impact that Savida Health has. Mr. Neice asked what the success rate was for the Southwest area. The Marketing Director explained the process that patients must go through when receiving treatment. He stated that all patients start with weekly appointments until they are able to phase up through treatments and screenings. Phasing up meaning, the patient attends sessions less frequently. Ms. White explained that Savida Health works very close with workforce development and parole officers. Ms. Arthur asked if Savida Health accepts state funded healthcare. Ms. White answered that Savida Health accepts private health insurance as well as Medicaid and Medicare. The Marketing Director stated that patients must take the medication in the office the first three days of treatment. He explained that at the end of the first week of treatment a drug screening is administer to observe how much of the treatment has been taken. If the results are high, Savida Health knows that the patient is taking too much, and if the results are lower than expected, Savida Health will know if the patent is distributing the medications. He stated that Savida Health owns a toxicology lab so they are able to differentiate between medications that the patient may be taking and if they are taking something additional off the street. Ms. Arthur asked for more information on the psychologist and mental health side of Savida Health. Ms. White stated that there are psychiatric nurse practitioners on site in the facilities and there is also a psychiatric program through Savida Health with two doctors overseeing the program in Southwest Virginia. Mr. Hall asked how many employees Savida Health plans to have for the proposed Pulaski facility. Ms. White stated that they would have three medical assistants, two medical providers, and two counselors on site as a starting point and could grow pending the case load. Mr. Schrantz asked where Savida Health would hire from. Ms. White explained that they hire from the area and currently have some staff members that are from Pulaski and work in the Wytheville office. Mr. Neice asked how emergency situations would be handled. He stated that he did not want an extra burden of transportation on law enforcement. Ms. White stated that patients can be triaged in to see a clinician. She explained that what would be done would be dependent on the situation and severity of the emergency. She further explained that patients would not be waiting outside. The facility is large enough to have waiting stations within the building Ms. Arthur inquired about any relationships that Savida Health may have with local law enforcement. Ms. White explained that Savida Health has a large case management program and are able to manage the needs before there is a need. She elaborated that Savida Health is very involved with the community and meets with police officers on a regular basis, participates in community events, attends the meetings, gives back to the community, and most of the facilities have a clothing closet and food pantry and the company assists parents with children, such as providing diapers. Ms. Arthur asked if Savida Health has spoken with local LPN programs to hire staff. Ms. White stated that Savida Health is very involved in community outreach and that Savida Health provides supervision hours for free to students. Mr. Schrantz asked if Savida Health was looking to fill a gap in the New River Valley or if they existed in the New River Valley. Ms. White stated that Savida Health has a facility in Blacksburg and in Wytheville, their two facilities in the area. Mr. Schrantz asked what expecting mothers meant in the staff report. Ms. White explained that Savida Health treats expecting mother patients the same as other patients. She stated that Savida Health works with expecting mothers on parenting classes and refers them to OBGYNs if they do not already have them and elaborated that usually someone who is pregnant will not improve past bi-weekly treatments. The Marketing Director explained that many OBGYNs do not accept patients with substance use problems but Savida Health finds providers in the community and refers patients to OBGYNs that do accept patients with substance use disorder. Mr. Schrantz asked what the typical hours were for the office. Ms. White stated that the majority offices are 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Mr. Hall asked how do people typically receive treatment. Ms. White explained that it depends on the person. Some people need to be on the medications long term while others can be weaned off. She explained that Savida Health’s goal is for people to be on the injectable medication which is administered every 28 days and then eventually weaned off. She continued that the injection is delivered by a special pharmacy day of injection. The counselor from Savida Health stated that the counseling’s main goal is to work on the issues to take away the cravings. She continued that they work with patients to get their needs met, such as signing up for benefits, getting jobs, and becoming productive citizens. She stated that the suboxone does not give them a high and she has even seen some patients go back to college as adults and pursue medical careers because of their treatments. With no further questions Mr. Hale closed the public hearing. Ms. Arthur motioned to recommend approval to Town Council the special exception request from Savida Health be approved as submitted and Mr. Schrantz seconded the motion. The motion passed on the following roll call vote: Chairman Meyer – Absent Mr. Hale – Aye Mr. Hall – Aye Mr. Neice - Aye Mr. Schrantz – Aye Ms. Arthur - Aye Mr. Taylor – Absent Old Business Houses of Worship Zoning Amendment Discussion Ms. Smith explained that Town Council requested that the Planning Commission add the following amendments to the Houses of Worship zoning amendment: county only, restrict number of people, restrict number of stays in a season, require ID’s, and require the operating hours to be 6pm to 7am. Mr. Schrantz explained that the restrictions recommended were the ones from the previous applicant, Taking it To The Streets. Ms. Arthur and Mr. Schrantz agreed that not everyone will have ID’s, especially homeless people. Ms. Arthur elaborated that if Taking it To The Streets wants to have extra security measures that is okay. Mr. Schrantz agreed that if the ID’s ever become a problem then the Planning Commission can amend it. He continued that the amendment can say the amount of people is determined by the building code. Mr. Schrantz then explained that if your homeless then you do not have an address and would not have a “home”. Mr. Schrantz stated that the amount of stays may depend on how big the operation is and it may not matter. Ms. Arthur agreed that the winters could be unpredictable and a winter may be very long. Mr. Schrantz agreed with the suggested time limit and that the Planning Commission should not get nitty gritty with the definition. Mr. Hall stated that the max number of stays could be determined by the organization and could be determined by the weather if the organization decided to do so. Mr. Schrantz made a motion to request staff to create an amendment for a public hearing by adding that warming stations can only take Pulaski County residents and can only operate from 6pm to 7am and Mr. Hall seconded the motion. The motion passed on voice vote. New Business Staff Report Ms. Smith updated the Planning Commission on the Compressive Plan public hearings and open houses. Other Business Adjournment With there being no further business to discuss, Mr. Hale adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Kevin Meyer, Chair ATTEST: __________________ Caroline Smith, Planner/Zoning Administrator/Secretary