Council vote pauses New Berlin addiction treatment center, CEO still sees path forward

NEW BERLIN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Opponents of a proposed substance abuse treatment center scored a victory Tuesday night, Jan. 13, but the developers are confident there are other avenues to pursue.

A standing-room-only crowd packed into the New Berlin City Hall as the city discussed ongoing plans to build a new substance abuse recovery center.

The Milwaukee Rescue Mission describes the New Journey program as a six-month, highly structured, Christian-based treatment program for men.

But many people have safety concerns.

Tuesday night boiled down to whether two property lots would be joined together so the center could be built. In the end, the city council voted 4-3 to deny joining those properties.

For now, the center cannot be built if the properties are apart.

But the developer believes they can find another way.

The Milwaukee Rescue Mission wants to build the facility near an industrial park, behind a distribution facility and a car wash. While there aren’t homes nearby, there are stores, restaurants, and a movie theater.

The majority of those in attendance voiced concerns with safety.

Part of the application phase to get treatment includes comprehensive background checks and confirmation of no unaddressed legal issues. And Milwaukee Rescue Mission says there will be onsite staffing 24/7, mandatory sobriety, and regular drug testing.

After the vote, the president and CEO told us there’s a need for addiction and recovery services everywhere, including in New Berlin.

Patrick Vanderburgh said, "We're anxious to allay the fears that people have. We want them to understand exactly what we’re planning on doing. And the location in New Berlin, it’s not residential. It’s a very commercial spot. It's very accessible throughout the region."

But the city council’s communication process caught about as much flak as the actual proposal.

Because the treatment facility is deemed a religious institution, a public hearing was not required when the council first discussed it.

There are FAQ pages on the city website, but many people felt blindsided by the proposal, and angry they couldn’t weigh in.

They made up for it Tuesday night.

For about two hours, several dozen people spoke to the council.

Most opposed the facility for a variety of reasons, including a worry the people it will treat will be unsafe, because the religious designation means it won’t have to pay taxes, and because of the process.

Ryan Andreshak said he "Moved back for very specific reasons. For safety, for community, for schools, and for my family. I believe this has the potential to impact all the reasons that I came back."

But several people also spoke in favor of it and the services it would provide.

Darlene Witkowski-Wilson said, "My husband benefitted from the program. He’s clean and sober. Me, my children, and grandchildren have had a fruitful life because of the program."

Vanderburgh told us the project is not sunk. The current owner of the two lots in question could unite them themselves. That could pave the way for the treatment center.