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Andover planning commission recommends special‑use permit for addiction treatment center at former nursing site
Summary
The Andover Planning Commission voted June 20 to recommend that the city council approve a special‑use permit for Ascension Recovery Services to reopen a vacant skilled‑nursing facility as a residential addiction treatment and detox center; the council will consider the commission's recommendation July 14, 2026.
The Andover Planning Commission voted June 20 to recommend the city council approve a special‑use permit allowing Ascension Recovery Services to reopen a vacant skilled‑nursing facility as a residential addiction treatment and detox center.
The recommendation, moved by Commissioner Gary Israel and seconded by Commissioner Dan Coulson, came after staff reported that the approximately 2.7‑acre site in the MXR mixed‑residential district previously housed a skilled‑nursing facility and that a prior special‑use authorization granted in March 2024 had expired when the applicant did not obtain a zoning permit within the one‑year validity period. Staff told the commission the current ownership has obtained state authorization to operate and is working to bring the property up to code; staff recommended approval based on the required 14 factors.
Applicant representatives said they have made interior repairs, installed new air‑conditioning, refloored and repainted the facility, and added security cameras. "We don't take dangerous patients. We will not admit them," said Nick Motu of Ascension Recovery Services, who told commissioners the operator is licensed for 80 beds but expects to cap occupancy at about 65. Motu said the facility will offer residential treatment and detox services but not methadone. Doug Leech, Ascension's founder and CEO, described a long record of operating recovery programs and said the group seeks Joint Commission or KARF accreditation.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing, and staff reported no written communications were received. After deliberation on the 14 factors — including utilities, access, site plan compliance and neighborhood compatibility — the commission voted to forward a recommendation of approval to the city council. The case will be on the council agenda for the July 14, 2026 regular meeting.
Votes at a glance: the commission approved the recommendation to the governing body by voice vote (affirmative votes recorded with at least one opposition). Earlier in the meeting the commission elected Dan Coulson as vice chair and approved the May 19 minutes by voice vote.
Next steps: the planning commission's recommendation and a written summary of the hearing will be forwarded to the city council; property owners have 14 days after the hearing to file protest petitions per the city's notice; if properly filed by owners representing 20% or more of property in the notice area, a supermajority vote on the council would be required to pass the change.
