BERKELEY, NJ — A new date has been set for the hearing for a proposed detox and rehabilitation center in Berkeley.
The settlement hearing for Quantum Behavioral Health’s lawsuit against the Berkeley Township Zoning Board of Adjustment is scheduled for a Feb. 7 special meeting at 6:30 p.m., according to public notice.
A hearing was originally set for Jan. 17, but that meeting was canceled due to a lack of notice.
Find out what's happening in Berkeleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Quantum Behavioral Health, which operates an outpatient treatment facility in South Toms River, had hoped to open the detox center at 6 Allard Road, which previously housed Bayville Manor. But a number of residents spoke out at a four hour meeting, and the plan was denied. Read more: Location, Safety Biggest Issues For Bayville Detox/Rehab Center
Last May, Quantum filed a lawsuit against Berkeley and the zoning board, claiming that officials “unlawfully yielded to the prejudices and fears of neighbors about the presumed harm that people with disabilities would bring to their neighborhood, often termed ‘NIMBY’ or ‘not-in-my-backyard.'”
Find out what's happening in Berkeleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The 109-page lawsuit said that officials “held one ‘kangaroo’ public hearing that screamed of pretext and discrimination” and that their denial of the application following that hearing was “based upon inaccurate statements and is devoid of any non-discriminatory or any other valid basis for the denial.” Read more: Settlement Hearing Set For Proposed Rehab Facility In Berkeley
The upcoming hearing is what’s known as a “Whispering Woods settlement,” based on a New Jersey court case from the 1980s. This will allow Berkeley and Quantum to settle the lawsuit without a full hearing, but allowing the public to hear the terms. In the settlement, Quantum seeks approval of the facility, with amendments.
All members of the public are invited to attend the hearing.
Click Here: Silicone Keypads
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.