Drug detox center could get almost $1 million from lawsuit settlement with Fort Pierce

Aug. 04--FORT PIERCE -- An alcohol-and-drug detox center that was denied a permit to build here could get almost $1 million in a settlement with the city.

The city has reached a $990,000 settlement with The Haven Detox Center of Palm Beach for denying it in January 2016 a conditional-use permit for a 20-bed, short-term residential center at a former assisted living facility at 4707 Oleander Ave.

The City Commission on Monday plans to discuss authorizing the settlement and having its insurance company pay the money to resolve the year-old federal civil lawsuit.

A payout by the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust, the city's carrier, would not affect the general fund, the account that pays for city services.

Representative of the detox center could not be reached for comment.

Attorneys for the center claimed the city violated its rights under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, Federal Fair Housing Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, because recovering alcoholics and drug addicts legally are considered disabled, and denying them housing is discriminatory.

The City Commission rejected recommendations of city planners and the Planning Board to grant the permit. Instead, they sided with dozens of residents who opposed the detox center on grounds it would escalate crime and hurt their property values.

In exchange for settling the lawsuit, The Haven Detox Center would agree not to build on Oleander Avenue and to remove Commissioners Tom Perona and Reggie Sessions from the lawsuit, according to the proposed settlement. The commissioners were named individually for making "hostile" comments against the center. Also, the city would not admit any wrongdoing and both sides would pay their own legal fees, according to the settlement agreement.

Sessions declined to comment. Perona did not return calls seeking comment.

Despite the nearly $1 million settlement, Mayor Linda Hudson said she stands by her vote against the center.

"At the time, I felt like I made the right decision based on the information that I had," Hudson said.

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