Board decision on controversial rehab facility still a month away
However, the decision on whether the facility will move forward has been delayed until
Suzanne and
The
Hoppock, who served on the zoning board until he resigned in
The document states that the Boisverts "completely ignore the external impact of their expanded internal occupancy requests. They also ignore the current composition of a very densely populated and congested neighborhood."
However,
"This is not a group home," Hoppock said Wednesday night. "This is a health care facility."
Davis disagreed, saying the 1989 exception nullifies the opponents' objections.
"All the objections are irrelevant because of the 1989 special exception granted by this very board," Davis said.
Meanwhile, Zoning Board Chairman
Wednesday's meeting, which lasted 3 1/2 hours, became heated when Hoppock questioned the Boisverts' credibility, saying they had continually misrepresented the facts to the city and the public.
"Their credibility is horribly lacking," Hoppock told the board. "They have not been candid with the board."
This, in turn, prompted Davis to defend his clients, saying they have been forthright and honest. Stout was forced to referee the exchange and the public hearing.
Meanwhile, a nonprofit organization focused on providing civil legal services to
The statewide nonprofit, New Hampshire Legal Assistance, has recently taken on the role of legal consultant for the Boisverts because people in recovery are considered disabled when it comes to housing, according to
"People in recovery are considered disabled under the Federal Fair Housing Act," Horrock said prior to Wednesday's meeting. "There is a potential of discrimination here. We just want to make sure that doesn't happen."
The financial burden of this process has been "immense,"
The Boisverts have a loved one who battled addiction for years, but has now been sober for nearly two years.
The Boisverts' proposal comes amid an epidemic of opioid abuse in
Meanwhile, when it comes to cost, Boisvert said people in recovery can save cities up to
"I don't know if that matters to anybody, but people in recovery actually save cities money," Boisvert said.
City Councilor
The property is within the borders of the ward.
"This is fact," Clark said. "This is scientific."
He referenced an
Many who spoke Wednesday cited exact dollar amounts lost if this facility moved forward. They quoted figures from
"This is my family's equity, our future," said
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