Property values cited as board
rejects teen treatment center
January 6, 2007
Associated Press
BENJAMIN — After neighbors
complained about their property values and safety, a Utah County
board rejected a request to build a residential drug-treatment
center for teen boys.
"I'm out there at night irrigating.
You think I'm going to carry a gun? Well, I will if that home gets
built," Blake Huff said.
The Journey Blazing New Trails LLC
wants to move from Provo. Program director Madolyn Liebing said the
boys, 12 to 18, do not have histories of violent behavior, sex
offenses or serious mental-health issues and are placed in the
program by judges.
She said the company wants to move
outside Provo so the boys can do more farm work. In nearly two
years, Liebing said, there have been no incidents of boys causing
problems for neighbors. Four ran away. "I think we've got a real
safe, solid program. We're having a real impact on these boys' lives
and hopefully making them better citizens," she said.
That didn't satisfy many people who
appeared at the Board of Adjustment meeting. Opponents submitted 10
letters from real-estate professionals who said the treatment center
would have a negative impact on property values. A home that is near
a drug-treatment center likely will sell for less than an identical
home located elsewhere, said Holly Davis, a mortgage underwriter.
"It does discourage a certain percentage of buyers," she said.
On a 3-1 vote, board members Randy
Christiansen, Lyle Hillier and Richard Dalebout voted to deny the
zoning exception that would have allowed the treatment center. "I
guess I'm not satisfied that there's enough information before us to
address the issue that there's no negative impact on property
values," Christiansen said.
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