Planning commission approves conditional use for Pyramid Healthcare inpatient treatment center at 279 Center Road

The Monroeville Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a conditional-use permit for Pyramid Healthcare to operate an inpatient substance-abuse treatment facility at 279 Center Road.

Jeff Reese, counsel for Pyramid Healthcare, told the commission the company, founded in 1999, operates roughly 80 facilities across eight states. For the Center Road location Pyramid described a 40-bed inpatient facility that it expects will treat roughly 2,000 patients annually. "This particular location...is an inpatient facility," Reese said, adding that Pyramid expects to meet staffing and licensing requirements.

Reese and Pyramid staff said the facility differs from some outpatient treatment centers because residents will be transported to and from the facility by Pyramid and will not be permitted to have private vehicles while in residence. "No one is permitted. None of the residents are permitted to have a vehicle," Reese said. Staff explained that discharges are arranged and that Pyramid typically transports people back to their home communities or to lower-level settings such as halfway houses when appropriate.

Pyramid told the commission that a parking variance was obtained at a prior zoning hearing to address a shortfall between existing spaces and ordinance requirements; the applicant will add redlined parking spaces on its site plan to reach the required total. The applicant also said a stormwater plan is required because of the parking changes; Pyramid has engaged Sheffler and Company of Sewickley to prepare that plan and requested that any commission approval be conditioned on Pyramid providing the stormwater plan to the council for review prior to council action. Pyramid said the sales agreement for the property conditions required approvals by April.

The applicant described security and operational controls for an inpatient setting: cameras, downward-directed lighting, supervised resident movements and three shifts of employees. Pyramid representatives estimated the facility would create about 100 full-time jobs and generate roughly $6,000,000 in annual economic activity for the community; they also said the company will invest in renovating the long-vacant building and intend to use local contractors.

Motion and vote: A commissioner moved to approve the conditional use; another commissioner seconded. The commission voted in favor with all present saying "Aye," and approved the application.

Next steps: Pyramid must submit the required stormwater plan and satisfy building, fire and licensing inspections; the application will proceed to the Monroeville Council for any required public hearing and final approval. Pyramid asked that any approval be conditioned on submission of the stormwater plan to council ahead of council action.