Board deems need for treatment facility greater than neighbors’ concerns
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Nov. 18 — After several months of review, discussion and adding new conditions at two levels of local government, the Page County Board of Supervisors voted, 3-2, on Monday to approve a special use permit for a “recovery treatment center” to be operated at the former Brookside Restaurant & Gift Shop on Route 211 east of Luray.
“Safety and security have been addressed…these individuals will be in the third stage of recovery, so they are not a dangerous population…and there will be agencies overseeing and tracking the operation of the facility…I think we have addressed many of the issues that have bene raised,” District 3 Supervisor Ryan Cubbage stated prior to the vote. The longtime volunteer with Page Alliance for Community Action — which strives to create a drug-free community — also spoke to the need for such a facility in the Page Valley.
“We all talk about the drug issue in the county,” Cubbage continued. “We talk about it, and we talk about it…here we have a chance to walk the walk.”
Cox Property Management, LLC has an option to buy the property from Cece Castle and plans to operate a recovery treatment center supporting up to 41 residents per day with a staff of 10 and one professional counselor. The “low intensity care” facility would not harbor hard criminals and will sit on a 4.5-acre site zoned for commercial use. The site provides ample parking, with more than 50 spaces, and traffic is expected to actually decrease under the new use.
Despite concerns voiced about safety of neighboring landowners and the location at the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains at a “community gateway” near the headquarters for Shenandoah National Park, the owner of the management company said the treatment facility is greatly needed and with no homes directly abutting the property that already has a large natural buffer, it was the perfect location.
“We are clear on the concerns and we’ve done our best to educate people…but all of these concerns are not in touch with the reality of our operation,” Cox Property Management owner Benjamin Cox told the board on Monday night.
He explained that ties to public funds that support the facility leave the operation subject to detailed scrutiny by inspectors who grant “accreditation for standard of care” every three years, and closely monitor the operation on a more frequent basis through reports. Cox went on to say that the regulations governing the operation of treatment centers do not offer the luxury of exclusively offering those services to Page County residents; however, they would get first consideration as the rules allow. The same would go for hiring staff, with a leaning toward Page County applicants, but understanding that certain qualifications by staff must be met.
“If you wait for a Page-only facility…you will never serve your residents,” Cox said. “If you don’t want this here, then you really don’t want it anywhere.”
Among the 17 speakers that addressed the supervisors during Monday night’s public hearing, only three were against the project — all seemingly from the same family. However, the county has received dozens of letters on the proposal, split between supporters of the Recovery 180 program that would be implemented at the site, and residents and local leaders who voiced their opposition to this location for such a facility. Despite its benefits in fighting the “drug culture” and “cycles of addiction” in the area, Page County Sheriff Chad Cubbage even submitted a letter against the recovery treatment center due to the location.
The special use permit application was first submitted to the Page County Planning Commission on July 9, 2024. After several months of discussion with the applicants, adding conditions to the permit, and hearing from opponents at a public hearing on Aug. 27 — the planning commission voted, 4-1, to recommend denial of the application to the board of supervisors on Oct. 8. Commissioner Catherine Grech was the only member of the planning commission to support the proposal.
“You signed on [as a supervisor] to find a solution [to the drug problem],” Grech told supervisors on Monday. “Here is a solution…at no cost to the county. Be consistent in what you say.”
District 2 Supervisor Allen Louderback stressed that his main concern was that the new facility would not be dedicated exclusively to Page County residents in need of those services.
“I know this is a very tough and emotional issue for everyone…and there’s a lot of good things to be said about this facility, but it still doesn’t indicate that our people will receive care,” Louderback said. “I have a concern that we won’t be able to care for our people…we need to deal with our drug problem…I believe in Page County first.”
It was explained multiple times throughout the hearing and the discussion that treatment facilities do not control where their clients come from — placement is determined by state and federal agencies who control the funding that supports the operation. For example, programs at the facility supported through Virginia Medicaid require that those individuals receiving benefits be Virginia residents; however, no facility is allowed to screen residents based on their town, city or county.
“If you wait for a Page-only facility…you will never serve your residents,” Cox told Louderback. “If you don’t want this here, then you really don’t want it anywhere.”
No clear indication has been given as to when the facility might open, although some minor renovations and retrofitting of the facilities will be needed.
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These inmates will of course not have contact with the local drug arrests every month. Sneaky peeky. You all are delusional.
There were many reasons for opposing this SUP and although only three members of the same family spoke is because we have been talking to many others about the matter and we were unofficially representing the neighbors, some people in recovery who are from Page County, and knew the general feeling of the citizens who opposed. Many reasons that were not heard; however, at least we heard the promise that preferential treatment will be given to local addicts. There were other and better locations for the center, but out of respect to the Castles, that information was going to be shared eventually. To our surprise the BOS was too quick to decide and not discuss the matter in more detail. That was a big disappointment. Now the question is HOW ARE THEY GOING TO GIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO PAGE COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO NEED THIS TREATMENT? That’s yet to be seen.
PV Long asks: “HOW ARE THEY GOING TO GIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO PAGE COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO NEED THIS TREATMENT? That’s yet to be seen.”
Since recovery begins somewhere, I ask, how long does it take to go from arrest to “level 3”. Will the chance at 6 months of 5 Star accomodations and free food be enough to divert the addicts from a life of escape and evasion?
The manager/owner indicated they were going to have Narcan in all bedrooms (nightstands). It is common knowledge that addiction and mental issues go together. I’m not an expert, I wish someone else would answer you question; but the public worried about relapses, overdoses, and access to drugs while in the facility since they are going to get visitors (from out of town); we have heard that drugs have been found even at the Jail, so it was a matter of concern and these questions were presented to the Planning Commission a few times; but the answers received by ONE member of the Planning Commission, thought it was ok, no concerns about the safety of neighbors, or the need of our EMS services were topics that deserved any attention, they think it’s all ok, no danger to anyone, no crimes will be committed because “there are going to be cameras” and the patients “can not leave the premises”. 🤣
The public laughed at the comments made by them. It is very unfortunate not enough knowledgeable questions were asked to the owner/manager to satisfy the fear and anxiety of the public before they approved the 50 years SUP.
So, how long does it take for a person to recover? I’ve heard never! They have to learn to cope and to manage the cravings and their triggers.
Maybe the owners and buyers could be sued for false advertising, especially after the first offense that’s tracked back to this place.
We should be ready to do that. Let’s go Brandon. We’re waiting for you.
You guys know that Page County families have addicts that are home grown right here, right? The call is coming from within the house.
I’m sure anyone can go to this treatment center who is willing to pay. We need our locals to get off drugs. Hope their families invest in their children’s recovery.
Yes!!! We need more services for Page County residents who are suffering from addiction. Yes 100%
I opposed the center for MANY reasons, but always said “If it’s for Page County, I will take my chances”
I also said “charity begins at home”
Because of how screwed up US healthcare is, drug rehabs are not free charities. So any Page County resident can go to this rehab. Just have to pay for it.
The only people complaining about this rehab are the NIMBY’s with surrounding property. It’s just like Allen Louderback and his gang that voted down the solar farm because it’d ruin their view.
People own private property and should be allowed to do with it what they will. We say we’re a freedom loving Trump county, but we’re really big selfish babies when push comes to shove.
Don’t worry. There will be NARCAN furnished in every room? NARCAN is for when a person overdoses. So that’s an admission that hard drugs will be in use at the “treatment facility”? This property has a sewage storage tank? It can be tested for drugs regularly. Also the creek downstream from the NARCAN equipped bedstands. There are drugs in the jails? There will be sex at the “treatment’s facility”? What about accomodations for transgenders? Here’s two fingers pointing out and eight fingers pointing down back to you.
Grateful that a majority of the Board of Supervisors chose to walk the walk on this issue rather than succumbing to the ugliness!
Amen. These pseudo Christians have forgetten or are willfully ignoring the commands of Jesus in the book of Matthew…welcome the stranger, embrace the foreigner, feed the hungry, heal the sick. It doesn’t matter where those needing help come from. ( The Good Samaritan)…Thankfully the hypocrits were vastly outnumbered by those who DO embrace the tenets of Jesus, as well as the FREEDOM of running your business and deciding its fate, not succumbing to the mind-numbing fear mongering expressed here and by the tiny minority of NIMBYs leading this pitchfork brigade.
You mean rather than going with the public opinion. It comes down to another under the table deal so it LOOKS like drug problem is being taken care of.
“People own private property and should be allowed to do with it what they will”
So you would be ok with someone starting a junkyard next door to your house or maybe a shooting range, or how about a chicken house in town. Sometimes these comments are more entertaining than the articles
Yep, zoning has deep history in racist and discriminatory behavior. https://www.governing.com/community/the-troubling-connection-between-zoning-and-racism
We see it right here. We don’t want “those rehab people” in our community. Old Robbie Sanford is foaming at the mouth. Zoning is a weapon.
You mean rather than going with the public opinion. It comes down to another under the table deal so it LOOKS like drug problem is being taken care of.
I have tried hard to stay silent, but enough is enough. Robert, I agree with about 98% of the things you say on this forum, but you are wrong on this one; so are the others so vehemently opposed to the opening of the treatment center.
I am a recovering alcoholic and addict. By God’s Grace, I have not felt the need to drink or do drugs for almost 25 years. I am slowly getting better-One Day at A Time. Addiction is a disease, no different than the cancer you suffered from. The individuals who will be housed at this center have asked for help with their disease; who are any of you to deny them this opportunity?
The argument that locals cannot afford to pay for it is not sound. First of all, their are many recovery programs offered in this county, completely free of charge. Some are faith-based, some are 12-step. There are also opportunities for individuals to be placed in treatment centers if more traditional programs are not enough.
Perhaps I feel more of a kinship with addicts and alcoholics, and that gives me an entirely different perspective than some of you. All I can say is that these people are our brothers and sisters, they are fellow Americans, and they need help, love, and support. I have listened to enough damned fear mongering over the last four months to last a lifetime. Please-let this go, and if you are not willing to be a part of the solution, stop trying to manufacture problems.
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