A proposed substance abuse treatment center at the former Forestview Nursing Home property on Indian Neck Road has raised concern among neighbors who worry the project could impact their safety and quality of life. 

Gosnold Behavioral Health, a non-profit organization with 50 years of experience treating alcoholism, mental health and addiction, plans to make the Indian Neck property its new headquarters, moving its executive offices and 96 in-patient treatment beds from their current location in Falmouth to Wareham.

That 50 Indian Neck Road property, which most recently operated as Wareham Healthcare, closed in 2021 following the expiration of its lease. 

Gosnold wants to move to Wareham for a few reasons, said Gosnold President and CEO Richard Curcuru — its current facility in Falmouth is outdated, and the company has a hard time finding staff on Cape Cod, he said. 

Gosnold’s proposed use of the property would not impact its neighbors any more than Wareham Healthcare did, representatives of the company told the Zoning Board of Appeals at a Wednesday, July 24 meeting.

“There’s an existing facility,” said attorney Mark Bobrowski, speaking on behalf of Gosnold. “We’re not going to have any different impact, generally speaking, in terms of traffic, noise, lights — it’s relatively the same.” 

A group of neighbors who organized in response to the proposal saw things differently. 

“Everybody likes a sober home because it’s needed. Everybody likes a new prison because it’s needed. But no one wants it in their neighborhood,” said attorney Leonard Bello, speaking on behalf of residents. 

Bello raised issues including whether there will be outpatient care, if there will be a security plan for the building including cameras and alarms, the status of outside lighting and if there is a plan to handle increased traffic stemming from the proposal. 

Gosnold representatives said they had several meetings with neighbors to help address their concerns.

While the company currently has outpatient treatment at its Falmouth location, it does not plan to have outpatient treatment at 50 Indian Neck Road, Curcuru said, adding the company just opened an outpatient treatment location in Plymouth to relocate some of its Falmouth patients. 

The 96 inpatient beds proposed for Wareham would be divided equally between a five- to seven-day medical detoxification program and a follow-up short-term rehabilitation program, which includes counseling and lasts three to four weeks. 

“These are all valid questions,” said Zoning Board of Appeals Chair Nazih Elkallassi, of residents’ concerns. 

“I know it’s a good program, but everything comes at a cost, and unfortunately, that location is going to come at the neighbors’ cost,” Elkallassi said. 

Not every member of the Board saw things the same way. 

Zoning Board of Appeals Clerk James Eacobacci spoke against “this business of ‘not in my backyard’.” 

”It’s a pretty good location, as far as I can see,” he said. 

Eacobacci established with Gosnold representatives that patients at the clinic would not be allowed to wander freely off the property. 

While it’s a 100% voluntary program, the people who choose to leave treatment are transported off the building’s grounds, said Curcuru. 

Curcuru emphasized the need Gosnold sees in Wareham for its services. Wareham “is one of the worst towns in this state” for substance abuse issues, he said. “We want to be able to help Wareham with this major issue.”

Later in the meeting, he urged against seeing Gosnold’s patients as “those people.”

“There’s not a person in this room or anywhere that doesn’t have a family member or a friend who’s affected by this,” he said. 

Elkallassi said he understood but added that the board had a responsibility to protect the people of Wareham. 

Building Commissioner Paul Turner required the company to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals because Gosnold plans to use the building as a “medical facility” as opposed to a nursing home, which isn’t allowed in that area under current zoning regulations. 

However, according to Bobrowski, the company’s proposal isn’t a normal request to the Zoning Board of Appeals. 

He said that because the center would treat people with substance abuse issues, federal disability law applies to this project rather than the town’s usual zoning considerations.

Denying a proposal like Gosnold’s “is something that would be tested in federal district court,” Bobrowski added. 

“Already going to court and we didn’t even start,” responded Elkallassi, getting a laugh from the room.

“I’m trying to retire, Mr. Chairman, so don’t make me go to court,” said Bobrowski.