Milwaukee non-profit files petition against the City of New Berlin
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee non-profit is now taking the City of New Berlin to court.
Milwaukee Rescue Mission says the city isn't following its own rules by not allowing them to move forward with building their proposed substance abuse treatment center.
It all started last December when New Berlin's commission unanimously approved the Milwaukee Rescue Missions application for their proposed New Journey Campus.
Now, the non-profit says the city wrongfully hasn't issued their zoning permit and is taking it to the courtroom.
“We are just asking the court to tell the City of New Berlin, particularly the Board of Appeals, to follow their rules," said Patrick Vanderburgh, the President and CEO of Milwaukee Rescue Mission.
Milwaukee Rescue Mission filed a petition against the city of New Berlin Friday.
"We just want the court to you know affirm, like ok you guys have already gotten all the, you’ve done everything you need to do and you’ve gotten the approval by the City of New Berlin, go ahead and build this camp," said Vanderburgh.
The petition asks the city to issue the zoning permit previously authorized by the New Berlin Plan Commission to allow the non-profit to build their proposed substance abuse treatment center.
"We know that it’s going to be a blessing to you know, hundreds of men and families, including men in New Berlin," said Vanderburgh.
Vanderburgh says the center called New Journey would be a six-month highly structured residential treatment program. It's proposed to be built right off of I-43 near moorland road.
Earlier this year, the project received pushback, with citizen groups trying to stop the project.
Vanderburgh says it’s a longtime successful program and the need for it is outgrowing their current operations.
"I mean addiction is everywhere, particularly in Wisconsin," said Vanderburgh. "Wisconsin has you know some of the highest rates of alcoholism in the country and so you know it’s everywhere, certainly in the city of Milwaukee, but it’s absolutely also in New Berlin, Waukesha County and you know that’s our aspiration is just to provide this resource."
The petition says a citizen group attempted to file an appeal asking the city's Board of Appeals to change their decision, which the Milwaukee Rescue Mission says is not following the city's process.
CBS 58 reached out to the city of New Berlins attorney, Thomas Schmitzer, for a comment on the petition. Schmitzer says the city doesn't comment on pending litigation.