Page County planning commission postpones decision on Brookside recovery center after public hearing

The Page County Planning Commission on a work-session evening reopened a public hearing on a special-use permit to convert the Brookside restaurant property at 2978 U.S. Highway 211 East into a licensed low-intensity residential recovery center and then postponed a decision to allow a missing commissioner to participate.

Planning staff told commissioners the application, filed by Cox Property Management (assigned), would use two commercial parcels (one 4.275 acres, the other 0.202 acres) and could house up to 41 residents with about 10 staff and one professional counselor, and that the parcels are currently zoned commercial. Staff said the proposal would involve use of existing buildings and parking and recommended attaching any outstanding VDOT, health department or building official requirements to an SUP if the commission approves it.

The proposal drew both support and opposition during a lengthy public-comment period. Mike Dart, a former county probation officer and longtime substance-abuse counselor, said the county needs local recovery services and pushed back on neighborhood objections: “People in recovery don't cause problems. People not in recovery cause problems.” Supporters including property owner Cece Castle said the sale was understandable and the new use would preserve existing structures.

Opponents raised economic, safety and environmental concerns. Keith Ryan, a nearby resident, said Page County depends on agriculture and tourism and warned of lost jobs and cabin rentals if the restaurant and cabins close. Patricia Long and other neighbors said the site is low-lying and floods, asking who would shoulder emergency-response burdens. Gabriella Long argued the property sits in the environmental preservation and agricultural protection tiers and said a high-density, 24/7 facility with about 40 residents would conflict with the county’s comprehensive plan.

Applicant representative Michael Rothstein, chief operating officer for Recovery 180, described the operator’s model and safeguards: the facility would be a 24/7 supervised, male-only, low-intensity residential program (target 90 days, often 90–120 days), accept clients via bed-to-bed transfers after medical detox, exclude violent offenders and those with severe mental-health needs, and maintain screening, bag checks, and staff-accompanied transports. “This is not an outpatient facility,” Rothstein said, adding that clients are supervised on site and discharge planning is emphasized.

Commissioners asked detailed operational questions about signage, screening, medical oversight, emergency planning and outcomes metrics. Staff confirmed they had asked the county attorney whether the commission could require the facility to accept Page County residents only and were told it could not impose such a residency restriction.

An unidentified commissioner moved to postpone a decision until Commissioner Adams could be present and until commissioners had time to review outstanding questions; the motion was seconded and a roll call resulted in recorded affirmative votes for Miss Craig, Mister Turner and Mister Burner with Miss Kyle not recorded responding. The chair announced the motion carried and the decision was postponed.

Next steps: the SUP application will return to the planning commission for further consideration when the full commission can review the additional material and Commissioner Adams is present. No date was specified during the meeting.