The Town of Vestal is being sued for close to $1 million by a nonprofit Christian organization after it denied them the ability to open a rehabilitation facility back in 2009. Candlehouse Teen Challenge tried to open a rehab center for women recovering from addiction and emotional disorders at their facility on Mirador Drive, a residential neighborhood in Vestal. The Town of Vestal denied the request for the facility because the neighborhood has a zoning law prohibiting more than five unrelated people from living in the same residence, and the rehab center would have at least 12 such people living at it. Candlehouse says the town is in violation of federal laws, including laws prohibiting discrimination against disabled people. The organization originally asked for $300,000 when the lawsuit began three years ago, but since then, Candlehouse says they have been losing an average of $623 per day, based on money it would have received from the rehab center, legal fees, and negative publicity harming donations. Vestal has already spent close to $143,000 on legal costs connected to the lawsuit. The issue will be sent to trial in court on October 28th.
