New Kensington Council has denied a nonprofit’s request to use an office building on Industrial Boulevard for its outpatient mental health and substance abuse counseling services.
Southwest Behavioral Care, an affiliate of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, sought the city’s permission to use the vacant building at 400 Industrial Blvd., about a half-mile away from its current offices at 408 Eighth St.
Although the city’s planning commission had recommended approval, council on Monday voted 4-1 against granting the conditional use the agency needed to use the building. Councilman Tim DiMaio cast the only vote against denying the request.
While saying he wants the services to help New Kensington residents, Councilman Todd Mentecki said he was not happy with that type of business on Industrial Boulevard, which he called a major way into and out of the city.
Although Mentecki and Councilman Dante Cicconi both said they had heard concerns and objections to the building’s use, DiMaio said not one person had brought any such concerns to him.
A conditional use approval was needed for Southwest Behavioral Care to use the building for its offices because it is in an I-2 (general industrial) zoning district, where office buildings are permitted only as an accessory to an industrial use.
Cheryld Emala, chief operating officer of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, could not be reached for comment Tuesday on what the agency will do next.
Although no one spoke against the use during a public hearing before council’s regular meeting in April, council postponed voting then after three residents raised concerns and objections to it being in a residential area during the council meeting that followed.
Speaking again Monday, Carnetta Scruggs said residents had not gotten enough notice or opportunity to comment on the proposed use of the building, despite City Clerk Dennis Scarpiniti’s claim that the city mailed letters to all resident living within 300 feet. It had been advertised in the newspaper as required.
Scruggs said she did not get a letter and argued for residents to have another opportunity to comment.
Scruggs said some residents were concerned that the office would become a methadone clinic, which during the meeting Emala said they had no intention of doing.
During Monday’s meeting, Emala said her organization had looked into other buildings in the city, but they did not fit their needs.
While she said they found 80% of their patients take the bus to get to their current location, she said those walking could be told to use the sidewalks on Industrial Boulevard instead of the alley closer to homes.
More clients, employees
With the additional space the building would provide, Emala said Southwest Behavioral Care expected its number of patients to increase from about 300 to 500, and staff to grow from 13 to 20.
Emala said the group wanted to move forward with its plans.
“We serve your community,” Emala said. “The people they are afraid of are their own members.”
The owner of the building, whose name was not available, spoke during council’s Monday meeting, held remotely on Zoom. She said Southwest Behavioral Care was the best tenant among those that expressed interest in the building, which she said were another behavioral health group, a car lot and a strip club.
Cicconi reacted angrily when the owner said she could rent the building for a strip club, saying they were being “leveraged.”
“That’s awesome,” he said sarcastically.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Brian at 724-226-4701, brittmeyer@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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