ROCKLAND — Parking space requirements could be the deciding factor as to whether a methadone clinic already operating in Rockland will be permitted to relocate to a certain other Rockland location.

New Season Treatment Center currently operates at 166 New County Road. However, its owner, Metro Treatment of Maine, LLC (Jim Horwitz), signed a contract in August 2022 to purchase 231 Park Street from Alan D. Sewall.

City zoning requires the proposed development to have one parking space for every 150 square feet of floor area. The building, which previously housed MaineHealth Care at Home, is 5,065 square feet.

Since the entire building will be used as an outpatient treatment center, 34 parking spots would be required. The lot currently has 21 spots.

Horwitz, whose business has a Maitland, Florida mailing address, is asking the Rockland Planning Board to reduce the parking space requirements, citing observations recorded during a week in December at 166 New County Road. That location has 22 parking spots, and another four unmarked spots behind the building.

“There have been no instances observed where all 26 parking spaces have been occupied,” said the application, which was submitted to the City by Gartley and Dorskey Engineering.

Between Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, and Sunday, Dec. 18, 123 patients received treatment. The hours of operation were 5 a.m. - 1 p.m. During those hours, a maximum number of 13 vehicles per hour were observed, including those of seven employees. The average patient visit was 10 minutes.

“Based upon the traffic observed at the New County Road location, as summarized in the paragraphs above, the applicant is asking the Board to consider reducing the required number of parking spaces,” said the application.

Horwitz’s proposal and parking space reduction request will come before Rockland Planning Board on Tuesday, Feb. 7. The meeting begins at 5:15 p.m. in City Council Chambers.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com