Board waives ORS distance restriction to allow methadone clinic at 990 Garfield Street

Lane County commissioners on Jan. 7 voted unanimously to waive statutory separation restrictions to allow Oregon Recovery and Treatment Centers LLC to open a methadone clinic at 990 Garfield Street.

The board approved Order 25-01-07-15 to waive parts of ORS 430.590(1)-(3) for the proposed clinic location, acting on a recommendation from county health staff. Eve Grama, director of Lane County Health & Human Services, told the board the contested measurement is about 950 feet "as the crow flies" from a nearby childcare facility's property line; the buildings themselves are farther apart and walking or driving between the sites exceeds 1,000 feet. Staff recommended approval as addressing a technical measurement issue while meeting the statute's intent.

Commissioner Trigger urged support for the waiver and said the treatment provider previously awarded a waiver for another downtown site had shown measurable success and that the proposed site is convenient for many of the provider's clients. "By being able to offer low barrier, easy access to treatment with same day admissions, we are able to reach more people and aid in connecting individuals to resources," said Terry Morgan Urie, program director at Springfield and Eugene Treatment centers (public comment earlier in the meeting). Commissioner Seneca and others said the request seemed to meet the statute's intent and voted in favor.

The motion to approve the waiver passed 5-0. The order cites ORS 430.590; no additional conditions or special reporting requirements were specified in the board motion recorded during the meeting.