The Lawrence Township Zoning Board tonight (Wednesday, April 27) will hold its sixth hearing on Sunrise Detox’s controversial plan to open a 38-bed in-patient drug and alcohol detoxification center on Federal City Road.

The hearing – which was originally scheduled to be held on April 13 but was postponed – will be held in the council chambers at the township municipal building at 2207 Lawrence Rd. beginning at 7:30 p.m. (Click here to download a copy of the zoning board agenda.)

The 17,000-square-foot building that Sunrise hopes to use sits at the entrance to the Traditions at Federal Point adult community and directly behind the homes in another development that includes Frederick Court and Karena Lane. 

A land-use variance must be issued by the zoning board before property owner John Simone can legally lease the building to Sunrise for use as a short-term medical center.

Previous hearings featuring testimony from Sunrise representatives and experts testifying on behalf of the Florida-based company have drawn strong and vocal criticism from residents who believe that such a facility should not be located so close to residential neighborhoods.

For Previous Coverage:

March 19: Final Witnesses Testify on Behalf of Proposed Detox Center; 6th Hearing Before Zoning Board Set for April

Feb. 9: No Decision Made in Case of Proposed Rehab Center, Testimony to Resume at March Zoning Board Meeting

Jan. 24: Debate Continues Over Proposed Rehab Center

Dec. 23: More Hearings for Proposed Rehab Center