By Jesse Reilly
Staff Writer

After arguing that a methadone clinic is not permitted under Philmont Avenue’s current zoning for three meetings, Brian Greenfield, counsel for the residents, Lower Moreland’s newly organized civic association and neighboring businesses, rested his case at the zoning hearing board’s meeting Jan. 27.

Greenfield argued that Discovery House, the clinic on Philmont, causes a significant hardship to area residents and businesses and is not allowed under the township’s zoning code because it is a clinic, not a professional use.

According to Greenfield’s expert witness, Fronefield Crawford Jr., a clinic is allowed in the T-residential and D-commercial zoning districts by special exception. The area of Philmont Avenue where the Discovery House is located is zoned industrial.

Debating the qualities of a clinic and professional use, Edward Wild, counsel for the Discovery House, asked Crawford why he believes it is a clinic.

“With heavy usage from 6 to 8 a.m. it is clearly not an office, it’s a dispensary, a pharmacy,” Crawford said at an early meeting.

Crawford cited paperwork where the Discovery House referred to itself as a clinic, common knowledge of methadone clinics as well as court cases where facilities like the Discovery House were called clinics.

“In state statutes they are never called methadone offices,” he said. “They are called facilities or clinics.”

In the professional use versus clinic debate, the number of medical personnel on duty, activities at the clinic, hours and volume were also discussed. The debate over the definition of the two uses ended Wild’s cross examination of the witness and brought applause from the crowd.

But, before Wild could call a witness and begin to present his case, Greenfield introduced a subpoena requesting documents from the Discovery House.

“We just want general information about it so we will be able to cross examine Mr. Wild’s witness,” Greenfield said.

To that, Wild objected.

“This is not appropriate, they have already rested their case and submitted their exhibits,” he said. “I have never seen this before tonight and some of the information they are requesting could contain confidential information.”

With the next meeting on the issue scheduled for Feb. 4, Wild argued that the information could not be gathered in time.

The board told him to do what he could.

“Apply the information that you can and object to what you want to object to next week,” the board’s chairman, Richard Moore, said.

The board signed the subpoena.

With only 20 minutes left in the hearing, Wild began presenting his case and called architect Victor DePallo as a witness.

DePallo has 30 years of architecture experience and has run his own business for more than two decades. He is licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and works with municipalities to draft ordinances, comprehensive plans and work on redevelopment.

Although Wild wanted to submit him as an expert witness in land planning and zoning law, the other side disagreed.

With no law degree, never having been considered an expert in zoning interpretation or law before, Greenfield objected to the witness and it seemed the board was on his side.

According to Moore, DePallo would be accepted as a land planning expert witness but not a zoning expert.

Greenfield then moved to dismiss the witness altogether arguing that the Discovery House hearing did not deal with land planning issues.

But because DePallo reviewed the township’s zoning maps and ordinances, visited the Discovery House and conducted an onsite investigation and was present for all parts of the hearing, he was accepted as an expert witness on land planning.

His testimony will continue at the board’s next meeting Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.

Pet training school to begin March 16

Pet Guardian Services Helping Humans and Animals Remain Together Professional Dog Understanding and Training School is set to begin March 16.

Information and registration sessions will be held Feb. 16, 23 and 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Giant Super Store, 315 York Road.

For more information call 215-499-6863 or e-mail maryvanever@comcast.net.

By Jesse Reilly
Staff Writer

After arguing that a methadone clinic is not permitted under Philmont Avenue’s current zoning for three meetings, Brian Greenfield, counsel for the residents, Lower Moreland’s newly organized civic association and neighboring businesses, rested his case at the zoning hearing board’s meeting Jan. 27.

Greenfield argued that Discovery House, the clinic on Philmont, causes a significant hardship to area residents and businesses and is not allowed under the township’s zoning code because it is a clinic, not a professional use.

According to Greenfield’s expert witness, Fronefield Crawford Jr., a clinic is allowed in the T-residential and D-commercial zoning districts by special exception. The area of Philmont Avenue where the Discovery House is located is zoned industrial.

Debating the qualities of a clinic and professional use, Edward Wild, counsel for the Discovery House, asked Crawford why he believes it is a clinic.

“With heavy usage from 6 to 8 a.m. it is clearly not an office, it’s a dispensary, a pharmacy,” Crawford said at an early meeting.

Crawford cited paperwork where the Discovery House referred to itself as a clinic, common knowledge of methadone clinics as well as court cases where facilities like the Discovery House were called clinics.

“In state statutes they are never called methadone offices,” he said. “They are called facilities or clinics.”

In the professional use versus clinic debate, the number of medical personnel on duty, activities at the clinic, hours and volume were also discussed. The debate over the definition of the two uses ended Wild’s cross examination of the witness and brought applause from the crowd.

But, before Wild could call a witness and begin to present his case, Greenfield introduced a subpoena requesting documents from the Discovery House.

“We just want general information about it so we will be able to cross examine Mr. Wild’s witness,” Greenfield said.

To that, Wild objected.

“This is not appropriate, they have already rested their case and submitted their exhibits,” he said. “I have never seen this before tonight and some of the information they are requesting could contain confidential information.”

With the next meeting on the issue scheduled for Feb. 4, Wild argued that the information could not be gathered in time.

The board told him to do what he could.

“Apply the information that you can and object to what you want to object to next week,” the board’s chairman, Richard Moore, said.

The board signed the subpoena.

With only 20 minutes left in the hearing, Wild began presenting his case and called architect Victor DePallo as a witness.

DePallo has 30 years of architecture experience and has run his own business for more than two decades. He is licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and works with municipalities to draft ordinances, comprehensive plans and work on redevelopment.

Although Wild wanted to submit him as an expert witness in land planning and zoning law, the other side disagreed.

With no law degree, never having been considered an expert in zoning interpretation or law before, Greenfield objected to the witness and it seemed the board was on his side.

According to Moore, DePallo would be accepted as a land planning expert witness but not a zoning expert.

Greenfield then moved to dismiss the witness altogether arguing that the Discovery House hearing did not deal with land planning issues.

But because DePallo reviewed the township’s zoning maps and ordinances, visited the Discovery House and conducted an onsite investigation and was present for all parts of the hearing, he was accepted as an expert witness on land planning.

His testimony will continue at the board’s next meeting Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.

Pet training school to begin March 16

Pet Guardian Services Helping Humans and Animals Remain Together Professional Dog Understanding and Training School is set to begin March 16.

Information and registration sessions will be held Feb. 16, 23 and 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Giant Super Store, 315 York Road.

For more information call 215-499-6863 or e-mail maryvanever@comcast.net.

By Jesse Reilly
Staff Writer

After arguing that a methadone clinic is not permitted under Philmont Avenue’s current zoning for three meetings, Brian Greenfield, counsel for the residents, Lower Moreland’s newly organized civic association and neighboring businesses, rested his case at the zoning hearing board’s meeting Jan. 27.

Greenfield argued that Discovery House, the clinic on Philmont, causes a significant hardship to area residents and businesses and is not allowed under the township’s zoning code because it is a clinic, not a professional use.

According to Greenfield’s expert witness, Fronefield Crawford Jr., a clinic is allowed in the T-residential and D-commercial zoning districts by special exception. The area of Philmont Avenue where the Discovery House is located is zoned industrial.

Debating the qualities of a clinic and professional use, Edward Wild, counsel for the Discovery House, asked Crawford why he believes it is a clinic.

“With heavy usage from 6 to 8 a.m. it is clearly not an office, it’s a dispensary, a pharmacy,” Crawford said at an early meeting.

Crawford cited paperwork where the Discovery House referred to itself as a clinic, common knowledge of methadone clinics as well as court cases where facilities like the Discovery House were called clinics.

“In state statutes they are never called methadone offices,” he said. “They are called facilities or clinics.”

In the professional use versus clinic debate, the number of medical personnel on duty, activities at the clinic, hours and volume were also discussed. The debate over the definition of the two uses ended Wild’s cross examination of the witness and brought applause from the crowd.

But, before Wild could call a witness and begin to present his case, Greenfield introduced a subpoena requesting documents from the Discovery House.

“We just want general information about it so we will be able to cross examine Mr. Wild’s witness,” Greenfield said.

To that, Wild objected.

“This is not appropriate, they have already rested their case and submitted their exhibits,” he said. “I have never seen this before tonight and some of the information they are requesting could contain confidential information.”

With the next meeting on the issue scheduled for Feb. 4, Wild argued that the information could not be gathered in time.

The board told him to do what he could.

“Apply the information that you can and object to what you want to object to next week,” the board’s chairman, Richard Moore, said.

The board signed the subpoena.

With only 20 minutes left in the hearing, Wild began presenting his case and called architect Victor DePallo as a witness.

DePallo has 30 years of architecture experience and has run his own business for more than two decades. He is licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and works with municipalities to draft ordinances, comprehensive plans and work on redevelopment.

Although Wild wanted to submit him as an expert witness in land planning and zoning law, the other side disagreed.

With no law degree, never having been considered an expert in zoning interpretation or law before, Greenfield objected to the witness and it seemed the board was on his side.

According to Moore, DePallo would be accepted as a land planning expert witness but not a zoning expert.

Greenfield then moved to dismiss the witness altogether arguing that the Discovery House hearing did not deal with land planning issues.

But because DePallo reviewed the township’s zoning maps and ordinances, visited the Discovery House and conducted an onsite investigation and was present for all parts of the hearing, he was accepted as an expert witness on land planning.

His testimony will continue at the board’s next meeting Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.

Pet training school to begin March 16

Pet Guardian Services Helping Humans and Animals Remain Together Professional Dog Understanding and Training School is set to begin March 16.

Information and registration sessions will be held Feb. 16, 23 and 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Giant Super Store, 315 York Road.

For more information call 215-499-6863 or e-mail maryvanever@comcast.net.