Cortlandt Wary of New Peekskill Methadone Clinic

PEEKSKILL, N.Y. – The supervisor of neighboring Cortlandt is calling on the city's Planning Commission to keep Cortlandt in the loop about plans for a methadone clinic on the border of the two municipalities.

Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi wrote a letter to the commission and Peekskill officials on Monday saying property owners who live within 500 feet of the proposed clinic site at 3 Corporate Drive were not notified of the application before the Peekskill commission. 

"To the best of my knowledge no one in the Town of Cortlandt received notice of this application from Peekskill's planning commission," Puglisi wrote.

The supervisor went on to say she had concerns about the creation of such a facility at the planned location.

"It is my understanding that as many as 250 patients a day, beginning as early as 6 a.m., may visit the facility," Puglisi said. "This number of patients has the potential for a variety of impacts including traffic increases and impacts to the surrounding area. In addition, the proposed facility is to be located in an industrial park with existing uses such as contractor's yards and offices and other warehouse uses which are incompatible with a medical facility."

Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster told residents at the July 16 Common Council meeting that Common Council members were not aware of the Planning Commission’s approval of the clinic. The clinic is intended to replace one currently operating out of the Hudson Valley Hospital Center.

Methadone is a drug used to treat recovering heroin addicts that mitigates withdrawal symptoms. Patients are given methadone over a period of time to wean them off of heroin and are eventually weaned off of methadone as well.

Peekskill Director of Planning Anthony Ruggiero said that proper notifications would be sent out for the Planning Commission meeting on Sept. 11, when the clinic will be discussed again.

"This was an error on the city's part, which is why it's being renotified," he said.

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