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Conflict resumes over Rochester mental health housing program

Beaver County Times (PA) - 3/18/2014

March 18--ROCHESTER -- Owners of a downtown business filed a legal appeal after the borough determined it couldn't use their building to house a partially supervised housing program for people with mental health issues.

The appeal asks the borough to reverse a recent zoning hearing board decision, which a lawyer for the owners deemed unlawful discrimination, but a public hearing this month could resolve the issue by allowing such facilities in certain zoning areas, borough solicitor Bernard Rabik suggested.

Owners Domenic and Catherine Leone had converted part of their 101 Brighton Ave. building so Cornerstone Recovery & Supports could have a licensed partial community residential rehabilitation home, which included apartments and a community room. But a borough ordinance does not allow for that type of facility anywhere in the borough, according to a legal notice.

In November, members of the borough's zoning hearing board rejected an application for a special use exception, so last month, the couple's attorney filed a motion in Beaver County Court of Common Pleas.

According to the filing, the rejected application violates the Americans with Disabilities Act because it unilaterally excludes a reasonable accommodation to people with mental problems, among other issues.

A public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m.March 26 at the municipal building at 350 Adams St.

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