Campton Hills area drug treatment facility up to zoning board

The time for asking questions and providing evidence both supporting and opposing a drug treatment facility outside Campton Hills came to a close Thursday night with three hours of public sentiment against the project.

Now all the neighbors opposing the plan will await a final recommendation from Kane County's zoning board. That recommendation will influence a final decision by the Kane County Board.

The bulk of Thursday's hearing focused on the concerns of surrounding property owners. The concerns had not lessened since a previous zoning board and county board rejected Maxxam's application last year.

Threats of a $68 million lawsuit and a series of promises by the would-be developer to ease public fears fueled reconsideration of the plan.

Comments from area residents Thursday summarized fears of lost property value, increased crime and a facility that would become the focus of 9-1-1 responders so much that it would jeopardize their own timely access to emergency care.

Ellen Freda, a local resident, said each person in the audience would have their own lawyer to fight against the project because of the damage they believe such a treatment facility would cause.

"If they could financially afford it, you would have 200 lawyers sitting here," she said. "We are all objectors. We're asking that you not hurt our general welfare and comfort level by changing the nature of our area so that someone can come in and make an awful lot of money."

Other residents reminded zoning board members of the testimony by Maxxam Partners Managing Director Steven Marco. Many of Marco's responses to questions asked by opposing attorneys involved some form of "no comment" or deference to the existing written record. Jeff Zwier said all the "no comment" answers did was leave a lot of important questions unanswered.

"Would you trust a loved one's care for substance abuse to someone who, when you ask how their care will proceed, says, 'No Comment?'" Zwier asked.

Public comment and questioning then closed. Zoning board members asked Marco a series of questions about the day-to-day operation of the facility, security and Marco's own level of expertise in owning and creating such a treatment facility.

Marco testified he has no prior experience with addiction treatment facilities but that he has spent the last three years consulting with experts who have such experience and medical knowledge.

Marco also repeatedly pointed to the professional licensure process involved with operating such a facility that would provide a proof of meeting all the industry standards.

The zoning board is set to take a vote on the petition Feb. 9.