December 16th, 2008

In Norristown, a group of residents has banned together in opposition to a proposal by a group called Vision Quest to use a section of the Norristown State Hospital as an emergency/crisis diagnostic services center for 12-to-18-year-old youth.

Reports the Times-Herald:

An emergency court hearing on Norristown’s request for an injunction against a proposal for youth housing and treatment in Building 12 at Norristown State Hospital was postponed Monday afternoon in Harrisburg.

The postponement of the hearing before a Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania judge happened after Norristown officials, Norristown Solicitor Todd Eisenberg and representatives of Vision Quest of Downingtown, Chester County, and Tucson, Ariz., and the state Department of General Services (DGS) apparently agreed Vision Quest would apply for a use variance and a public hearing before the Norristown Zoning Hearing Board, said Municipal Administrator David Forrest.

In a Nov. 26 letter to Norristown Zoning Officer Jayne Musonye, the director of the Bureau of Real Estate for the state General Services department asserted the department’s right to use the building.

“The intended use is clearly a permitted use and also a necessary function that is critical to the delivery of services required by the (state Department of Public Welfare) DPW,” said Joanne Phillips, the real estate director. “The Department of General Services is advising Vision Quest that they have fully complied with their lease agreement with the Commonwealth and we are authorizing Vision Quest to initiate occupancy of Building 12 at Norristown State Hospital.”

A 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, meeting at Hancock Fire Co., 820 W. Airy St., Norristown with Ward 1 and Ward 2 residents will include a discussion of the Vision Quest proposal.

Visit the Times-Herald for more details.