Advanced Recovery System LLC, a Florida-based company, submitted a request for a master plan amendment and conditional use to the City of Alpharetta to construct a rehabilitation and treatment facility at 11725 Point Place.
At the beginning of the month, the Planning Commission voted to recommend conditional approval of the Southfund Master Plan amendment and conditional use. The request is scheduled to be reviewed by the City Council during their regular November 15th meeting.
According to the application, the amendment and conditional use would allow a 62-bed rehabilitation facility to treat addiction and substance abuse in a 31,709 square foot building previously used as a nursing home located just south of the intersection at Upper Hembree Road and Pointe Place.
The property is currently zoned O-I (Office-Institutional) and is surrounded by retail and office/medical uses.
Southfund Master Plan was approved in 1995 as a 13-acre office-institutional development with retail uses. Pod A was approved for office-institutional and retail uses, and Pods B-D were approved for office-institutional uses. Pod D was developed in 1998 as a 1-story, 31,709 square foot nursing home. The Veranda at Pointe Place nursing home was the last business to operate on the property and has recently closed
According to the applicant’s letter of intent, the State licensed facility will treat people eighteen (18) years of age or older for alcohol and drug abuse, including onsite detox and secondary mental health disorders including mood disorders, personality disorders, and process addictions. Levels of care offered at the facility would be detox, intensive inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient care. Clients will not have vehicles. The applicant has stated that the clients are non-court mandated. The business has several locations across the U.S., including Colorado, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Washington. The business operates 24 hours per day, seven (7) days per week. The applicant anticipates a peak staff of 30 employees.
City documents state that a community zoning information meeting was held in April, where several concerns over the negative impact of the proposed new use would impact adjacent residential properties. The City had also received 96 letters in opposition to the treatment center. During the Commission meeting, public comments included concerns over crime, safety, privacy fence material, impact on property values, that this use does not belong adjacent to residential developments, concern over the applicant’s long-term plans, tree removal type of people in the facility, and noise among other comments.
Community Development Department Staff had recommended conditional approval to the Planning Commission. Both recommendations will be considered during the City Council public hearing and meeting on November 15, 2021.
