Parking concerns scuttle downtown New Bedford opioid clinic — for now

NEW BEDFORD — A proposed downtown New Bedford opioid-recovery clinic's proponents said their medical office should be treated like any other — from dermatologists to cardiologists.

And in unanimously denying their special permit application Thursday night, Zoning Board members said they did exactly that — they voted down the proposal because there isn't sufficient parking at the 270 Union St. site.ZBA Chair Laura Parrish said there were only two spots designated for the entire operation in a very busy downtown section.

She would have the same concerns, she said, if Southcoast Health was opening an office at the site.

Parking concerns were voiced by other ZBA members, as well as five area business owners who spoke in opposition. Opponents also said it would slow progress being made in the neighborhood, and there were already seven recovery clinics in the city.

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Police Chief Paul Oliveira also wrote a letter in opposition to the board on the traffic issue, stating there were traffic problems there now that would only be increased with a medical office's development.

Attorney Benjamin Fierro represented petitioner Michael Brier, CEO of Recovery Connection Centers of America.He said his client had two avenues of appeal — through the the state Land or Superior Courts or through federal court for violating federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.

He said that would be "on the basis that the failure to grant a reasonable accommodation to allow us to open is a violation of federal anti-discrimination law." People seeking recovery treatment are regarded as handicapped or disabled under state and federal law, he stated in an earlier filing with the ZBA.

Asked if his client might allow the disapproval to stand, he seemed skeptical, "He feels quite strongly about the need of this kind of treatment." Both avenues of appeal might be attempted, he said.

During the hearing, Fierro said the clinic would eventually service 15 to 25 people per day when prescribing medication. But it would have a doctor as provider and therapist for counseling only two days a week. An office manager would staff it six to seven days for calls and other office duties.

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Clients would be scheduled, would come in — no walk-ins would be allowed — have a drug screening, then meet with the doctor. The doctor would decide if a prescription was warranted, he said.

If that were the case, suboxone would be prescribed. The patient would then meet with the councilor and would later pick up the prescription at the pharmacy of choice. According to the RCCA website, "suboxone is less habit-forming than opioid pain medications or illegal opiates, such as heroin, it is also less habit-forming than methadone."

Ten to 15 percent of the clients will need an injectable form of suboxone, he added. The injection would be performed on site.

City Councilor Derek Baptiste spoke in opposition during the meeting, saying the parking was an issue and that RCCA's other sites seemed to be located in areas where parking was better.

The Recovery Connection Centers of America's website states it has locations in Attleboro, Brockton, Burlington, Dartmouth, Dedham, Fall River, Hyannis, Natick, Pawtucket, Plymouth, Providence, Roslindale, Springfield, Taunton and Worcester.

Baptiste added the opioid-addiction crisis did need to be addressed, but that "this just isn't the place."

Fierro said during the hearing that the opioid crisis has worsened post-COVID. The state Department of Public Health reported that opioid-related overdose deaths increased by 5% last year, and that there were 2,104 deaths in 2020, including 64 in New Bedford. The number of New Bedford deaths grew to 81 in 2021.

The City Council has also gone on record as opposing the site, but has offered to aid in locating an alternative spot in the city.