Hinckley Allen represented the Root Center for Advanced Recovery, a private, nonprofit behavioral health organization providing mental health and substance use prevention and treatment throughout Connecticut, in connection with the development of its new Hartford clinic.
This multi-million-dollar project will replace an outdated facility and serve more than 700 patients daily, offering counseling, medical care, and recovery programs in a modern, patient-centered environment designed to reduce stigma and promote long-term wellness.
As land use counsel, Hinckley Allen guided the Root Center through complex regulatory and zoning challenges that initially prohibited substance use rehabilitation facilities within the city. The team successfully obtained an amendment to Hartford’s zoning regulations to recognize such clinics as a special permit use and secured all local approvals necessary to move the project forward.
When the Planning and Zoning Commission imposed a last-minute condition that threatened to reduce on-site parking and limit patient access, Hinckley Allen negotiated a settlement that restored the necessary capacity and ensured compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The new state-of-the-art clinic stands as a cornerstone of Hartford’s efforts to expand access to critical behavioral health services and contributes to the city’s broader community and economic revitalization.