Lakeway revokes rehab center permit

LAKEWAY, Texas (KXAN) - After parents publicly raised loud objections to the building of a residential rehabilitation center next to Lakeway Elementary Center, the city of Lakeway announced Friday it is revoking the site development permit previously issued to the company.

Ground has already been broken for the construction of Recovery Ways, the second of its kind, modeled after its parent facility in Salt Lake City. That permit was issued on Feb. 6, and the building was expected to be complete in October.

Until parents' objections this week , the construction was moving along smoothly, as the site was originally zoned commercial and the building allowed.

The center's director, Dr. Maryann Rosenthal , was at the town hall meeting held Wednesday night to talk with the community about the project. She directs the Salt Lake City facility.

On Tuesday, Lakeway City Manager Steve Jones said the property in question has always been zoned commercial, and the building is allowed under city ordinance. The business is not classified the same way as a drug rehab center where addicts go to get clean, he said.

However, on Friday, Lakeway officials issued a statement which reads:

After further review of the proposed project, city staff determined that such projects are not allowed uses in the C-1 (Office/Retail) zoning district, the current zoning for the property where the project is proposed.

The site development permit previously issued for the project will be rescinded and the company will be advised to cease construction under that permit.

A letter submitted by Recovery Ways to the city of Lakeway in October explains that the center does not do detoxification. However, clients accepted have already gone through that process, are medically detoxed or are stable.