Stonewater Addiction Recovery Center hasn’t yet opened its inpatient facility for adolescent males. However, it was granted permission by the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors to expand with an outpatient program  for the same demographic.

On a 3-2 vote, the supervisors approved the outpatient program during their meeting Monday night. But there was plenty of discussion prior to the decision.

Developer Bryan Fikes asked the board for a preliminary and final commercial site plan approval for the controversial treatment center proposed to be located in a residential area of Clear Creek community.

Fikes said the outpatient facility would be located in what is currently a barn on the property that is also serving as the residence of Fikes and his wife.

Like the inpatient facility, Fikes said the outpatient would also treat adolescents, who would come to the treatment center twice a day for sessions of three to five hours.

“It will give us the ability to serve people out in the community who may live an hour or an hour and a half away,” Fikes told the board.

Many residents of the community have voiced opposition to the facility since it was first proposed in November of last year due to safety and other concerns. In December, the county Board of Supervisors granted approval for the free-will facility that will serve up to 16 inpatient male adolescents. The treatment facility is still in the process of making required upgrades before it can become operational.

One of those who will be impacted more than others in the area is Dr. Rick Carlton who shares the road with the treatment facility in order to have access to his residence.

Carlton said allowing the outpatient facility would be “an encroachment on us and our ability to use the drive way unencumbered.”

All five members of the board also voiced concerns with Fikes’ request.

District 4 Supervisor Chad McLarty said there was never any discussion of an outpatient program when Fikes was granted permission for the inpatient facility.

“I stress to you about being neighborly,” McLarty told Fikes. “We need to communicate better.”

McLarty, along with supervisors Kevin Frye and Mike Roberts, voted in favor of granting the outpatient program, while Jeff Busby and David Rikard voted against it.