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The Gretna Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended approval of a proposal to turn the former Rod Kush mansion into a 16-bed youth treatment facility.
In a 4-1 vote, the commission gave its support to a plan by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Omaha to operate a group care home within Gretna’s zoning jurisdiction.
The planning commission is only an advisory panel, however. The Gretna City Council, which has the final authority on the project, is expected to take it up on Aug. 18.
In June, more than 100 people piled into the Gretna City Hall to hear discussion before the planning commission. That evening, about 70 percent of the crowd opposed the facility, many of them from the nearby Lincoln Place subdivision.
During Tuesday’s meeting, about 35 people sat in the audience. Elkhorn attorney Rex Moats spoke on behalf of the opponents. He urged Gretna to reject the conditional use permit for the proposed youth drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.
Moats said homeowners fear that once the treatment facility opens, Catholic Charities will use the rest of the 25-acre parcel to expand its programs.
Last November, an Omaha developer bought the Kush property at an auction. The developer has agreed to lease 25 of the 35 acres to Catholic Charities.
The facility would serve children ages 12 to 19 from across Nebraska. Oversight would be provided by adult staff affiliated with the Catholic Charities treatment program, Journeys.
“My clients have legitimate safety concerns for their children and residents of the Gretna community,” Moats said.
John Synowiecki, a representative of Omaha Catholic Charities, repeatedly assured the planning commission that Journeys would not accept youths with criminal records.
Planning commission member Wayne Robb peppered him with questions about the security plans for the Kush house.
“We don’t really have a security program per se,” Synowiecki told the commission. “We have a process and a procedure. We’re not a corrections facility. We don’t accept kids who pose danger to staff, to other kids or to others in the community.”
Synowiecki also said that he can’t envision any scenario in which Catholic Charities would want to add beds.
“We want to keep it a residential facility,” he said. “Once you get 20 to 25 children, it becomes more of an institutionalized setting for the children. You get the best overall outcome when the number is about 16 youths.”
Contact the writer:
444-1056, john.ferak@owh.com
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