Board defers decision on Teen Challenge

STAFFORD — Teen Challenge, a faith-based residential alcohol/drug addiction recovery center proposed in the Hartwood District of Stafford County, was the hot topic during a Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting held Tuesday.

Ultimately after discussion and public input, the board deferred its decision on the topic.

The issue was rezoning a parcel of land at 399 Poplar Road from agricultural to accommodate the program, in which 17 individuals and staff would take part.
Residents would not be allowed to own cars, no further expansion of the facility would be permitted and residents would not include sex or violent offenders.

The Stafford County Planning Commission recommended denial of the application in December due to water and septic issues. Staff has recommended deferral of a resolution pending further discussion.

Of the approximately 50 people who attended this meeting, a great majority of them weighed in with opinions on the matter.

One resident stated there were no safeguards against sex or violent offenders being there and that there would likely be no real security against residents
walking off the property. He cited his concern over people with addiction and a propensity for them to also have mental health issues.

Hartwood resident John Druiett was vehement in his opposition to such a program.

"Do you really want these people living next door to you?” he asked. He said the area was for “hay farms country and horse farms, not a funny farm.”

His wife voiced her opposition, citing the present zoning. As an alternative site she suggested Locust Grove.

Planning Commissioner Ruth Carlone expressed her opposition, stating it simply did not meet the requirements of a conditional-use permit.

Another resident echoed Crlone’s sentiments, stating that the program was a business, and that Teen Challenge was attempting to “circumvent” the ordinances by way of claiming religious affiliation. She also cited environmental reasons including inadequate water and septic and its impact upon neighboring properties, such as endangering the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Wendy Harris, assistant Fredericksburg public defender, urged the board to approve the program, stating that substance abuse is a big problem in the area and there is a need for more programs that address the issue.

Several people, all graduates of Teen Challenge, advocated the program.

Grace Mills, a pre-teen daughter of a graduate of the program, said, “I would gladly give up some of my space for one of these people.”

She voiced her appreciation for the positive effects the program had on her father and she related very good experiences with people associated with the program. She asked the board to pass the rezoning request.

Supervisor Joe Brito, I-Hartwood, moved for deferral of the issue.

Paul Milde, R-Aquia, disagreed, and countered with a substitute motion to approve the zoning. He felt the board had no ground to stand on regarding land use.

He stated there was nothing to stop a family of 14 to live and operate the farm, and that the number of residents of the program would not be much different. He did not get a second for his motion.

Brito’s motion passed unanimously.

In other news, Hank Scharpenberg, Immigration Task Force chairman, delivered his report on its findings.

A few of their recommendations were that English be mandated in the schools and government, that the federal government and Virginia General Assembly drop the requirement to educate children who are not residents of the United States, that the General Assembly and federal government be petitioned for
reimbursement for educating children who were not legal resident and several other issues concerning the delivery of services.

In addition, Stafford County Schools Superintendent David Sawyer spoke of cuts proposed in the 2009 budget and the impact they will have on the 2010 budget.

One discussion item turned to buses.

“We have a large fleet of buses,” he said. They use diesel fuel and the cost of such is going up on a “nearly daily basis.”

The schools system has proposed no new buses for the 2009 budget, which will in turn create a need for the 2010 budget. Further, school enrollment is
expected to increase by 275 students.