CAMDEN — Winter storm or not, the Camden Planning Board is plowing forward this evening with its consideration of a proposed zoning ordinance amendment that could, if approved, allow a residential alcohol and drug treatment facility in part of town predominated by large summer estates.

While a significant amount of snow is predicted to fall this afternoon and tonight, the planning board has agreed to hold to its schedule, said Camden Planner and Code Enforcement Officer Steve Wilson, this morning.

“As far as we know, the consensus is, we are going for it,” he said.

The meeting begins at 5 p.m. in the Camden Opera House. Camden residents can watch it live on Public Access Television Channel 22. It is also streamed live here for those out of town.

The agenda includes continued review of the amendment request.

“The sole purpose of this continued public hearing is to allow the Planning Board members to deliberate the merits of the presented arguments regarding the final proposed ordinance amendment language that seeks to include alcohol and substance abuse treatment facilities as an allowed special exception within the Coastal Residential Zoning District,” the agenda says. “The board may, in its discretion, reopen the hearing for the purpose of asking specific questions or clarification of previous testimony. Otherwise, there will be no additional public comment at this hearing.”

Watch the Oct. 17 informational meeting.

Watch the Nov. 20 public hearing

Watch the Dec. 12 public hearing

Following that portion of the meeting, the board is then to move to the Washington Street Conference Room to convene as the Camden Comprehensive Plan Committee to work on the 2015 Comprehensive Plan.

The Planning Board is considering a proposed amendment that would, if approved by Camden voters, expand the town’s Coastal Residential zone parameters to allow special exceptions for “residential treatment facilities for comprehensive alcohol and related substance abuse disorders providing concurrent treatment for addiction and/or other associated psychiatric disorders.”

It is an amendment proposed by Fox Hill Real Estate LLC, working in conjunction with McLean Hospital, of Massachusetts, to establish a high-end alcohol and drug rehabilitation center that would serve 8 to 12 clients over a given period at the Fox Hill estate on Bay View Street.

The Planning Board’s task has been to evaluate the language of the proposed ordinance amendment, determine if it is in conflict with the town’s comprehensive plan, and decide whether to move it forward to the Select Board.

If they do send it to the Select Board, they are supporting that the voters should have a say in whether the amendment fits the zones.

Related stories:

Two Fox Hill neighbors say Camden's Bay View Street not appropriate for alcohol treatment center

Renewed effort to make Camden’s Fox Hill estate an alcohol and substance abuse rehab center begins

Camden’s Fox Hill changes hands, its future under consideration

McLean Hospital looks to Camden's Fox Hill for alcohol, drug rehab center

 Camden's Fox Hill rehab deal nixed by landowner, buyer mystified

No more phone polling of Camden residents about Fox Hill

Camden Planning Board walks Fox Hill estate; citizens, lawyers tag along

Fox Hill rehab center and the Camden Comprehensive Plan: In compliance or not?

Camden wraps up Fox Hill public hearings tonight

Camden Planning Board listens to more Fox Hill testimony; tables deliberations until Jan. 2

Fox Hill project

Project proponents want to turn the 13.8-acre Fox Hill estate at 235 Bay View Street into a high-end residential alcohol and substance abuse treatment facility for up to 12 clients at a time, each paying approximately $60,000 for four to five weeks of treatment.

Owners of the estate, Fox Hill Real Estate LLC (24 investors, including Lincolnville summer resident Tom Rodman and Rockport summer resident Merril Halpern), hope to team up with the Massachusetts-based McLean Hospital to establish the facility in the former Borden Cottage that sits on a hill overlooking Penobscot Bay.

Rodman has said the other 22 investors are family and friends; “no Wall Street sharks,” he said.

Other investors who have been named include Bob Campbell, of Rockport; Betty and Scott Harris, of N.H.; and George Rodman, of Maryland.

Philip Levendusky, associate professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School and senior vice president for business development and marketing, as well as director of the psychology department at McLean Hospital, is representing the nonprofit that would operate the facility.

The business deal between the for-profit Fox Hill Real Estate LLC and the nonprofit McLean Hospital, which would lease the property, is contingent on local zoning and site plan approval, as well as state regulatory approval.

The first step is for the planning board to vote to send the proposed amendment on to the Camden Select Board for its consideration. The Select Board is the body that ultimately decides whether to put the amendment on the ballot.

The amendment would adjust the town’s coastal residential parameters to allow special exceptions for “residential treatment facilities for comprehensive alcohol and related substance abuse disorders providing concurrent treatment for addiction and/or other associated psychiatric disorders.”

If approved by voters, the project proponents would then need to submit an application for a site plan review by the planning board. It is only the result of that second process that determines whether Fox Hill is allowed to become a treatment center.

And then there is an appeals process, as well, which could send any application approval to the town’s zoning board of appeals.

Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 706-6657.