Why is the Andover recovery center not yet open? Council sends it back to planning
The opening of a new recovery center in Andover has been delayed as the facility continues the steps to get a needed permit in order to operate.
LifeSpring Recovery of Andover initially planned to open in June, but that date was delayed after the facility found out that the special use permit it needed to operate had expired.
Two years ago, under previous owners, the City Council approved a special use permit for an intermediate care facility. Once a special use permit is granted, a facility has one year to present a certificate of occupancy or the permit becomes void. That did not happen in that case, meaning the building was without the needed permit for LifeSpring to operate. That fact was found out shortly before LifeSpring’s planned ribbon cutting
Andover’s planning commission unanimously approved the permit at its June meeting and sent it to City Council for final approval, but, during a long meeting on Tuesday, the council sent the application back to the planning commission. That decision was made after community members spoke of concerns they had with the facility, specifically around its location.
“I have concerns with compatibility with surrounding businesses, schools, and residences. Medical and commercial quarters seem to be a better fit,” Andover resident Lisa Land said, a concern that was reiterated by many community members during the public hearing that lasted more than half an hour.
LifeSpring is at 224 E. Central Ave. and shares a parking lot with an assisted living facility and is behind the Crescent Lakes neighborhood.
Chamber of Commerce director Lori Cullum spoke in favor of the facility, stating that the center had enthusiastically been involved in the Andover community and asking for empathy to those who need treatment.
“LifeSpring recovery stepped into this community, and they wanted to be a part of it. They sought out the community, they wanted to know what does it take to be a part of it,” Cullum said.
‘There is a need for this area’
The facility’s executive director, Jason Greever, was there to present on behalf of the treatment center.
“I can tell you it is the nicest behavioral healthcare facility in the state of Kansas. And I don’t say that just because I work there, I work there because that’s true,” Greever said at the meeting.
The facility will provide evidence-based practices, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectal behavior therapy and motivational therapy as well as medical detox services. It will also bring 45 full-time jobs to Andover.
While it’s licensed for 80 beds, Greever told the council that it will likely have about 60 to 65 patients at once.
The Butler County Community Health Needs Assessment from last year showed that mental and behavioral health was the number one community health issue, as reported by 63% of the respondents — but mental health substance use services were among the most difficult services to access in the area.
“There is a need in this area,” Greever said.
In response to concerns about safety in the area, Greever clarified who the center would treat.
“We’re not a methadone clinic, we’re not an outpatient clinic, we are not a homeless shelter, we are not a correctional placement residence. We are a private healthcare facility providing behavioral healthcare services,” Greever said.
“Our target population is folks like the folks of Andover.”
Greever said the target population was a population that didn’t have as much access.
“For individuals who are employed, who have commercial or private healthcare insurance or who have the ability to privately pay for treatment, there are very few options in the state,” Greever said. Those individuals are who “we are expanding access to be able to serve.”
Greever said that the center screens all patients prior to admitting them.
The Eagle reached out to Greever to get details on what the vote means for LifeSpring’s opening date, which, before the meeting, was set for this week.
Sent back to planning commission
A motion from council member Homer Henry to approve the permit died due to a lack of second.
Council member Tim Berry motioned for it to be sent to the planning commission to look at several items, including possible effects on the neighborhood. That motion passed with all but Mayor Ronnie Price in favor.
After the vote, Price spoke directly to the audience, saying that he could have ended public hearing due to redundancy.
“We have never let people come in here and be redundant, one after the other … So you got (an) opportunity that no one has ever got before and I as a mayor could have kept you from doing that but I did not want to do that,” Price said.
Price told The Eagle that it’s not typical to allow the same points to be made multiple times during public hearings.
“They had a chance to speak at the planning (and) rezoning, and they didn’t take that opportunity,” Price said. “So, generally . . . they’re not able to come in and talk about whatever they want. It has to be something new, you know. And so, under the circumstances, I felt it best to let them speak.”
The planning commission is set to review the application at next week’s meeting.
