Bridgeway Behavioral Health Outpatient Center May Move from St. Charles to St. Peters

Bridgeway Behavioral Health Center may move its outpatient facility from St. Charles to St. Peters following the city of St. Charles' buyout of a portion of the property to expand South Main Street South. 

Bridgeway Behavioral Health has three locations on South Main Street and South River Road including an outpatient counseling center for alcohol and drug abuse at 1599 Old South River Road.

The organization plans to relocate this facility to 2120 Parkway Drive, off of the North Interstate 70 outer road in St. Peters. The building was formerly Crosswinds Church. 

"It really needs to be somewhere in this area because we are the sole provider of counseling for St. Charles County DWI court and drug courts," Mike Morrison, CEO of Bridgeway Behavioral Health said.

The St. Peters Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved Bridgeway's request for a special use permit at the Feb. 6 meeting, although at least one nearby business owner expressed concerns. The St. Peters Board of Aldermen would also need to approve the request.

Donald Stanfield, the owner of a building near the site, raised concerns about the location of the outpatient center. He said several years ago a previous tenant was uncomfortable when a probation office moved in to nearby building and he allowed them out of their lease.

He said he has another tenant in the space who will break their lease if Bridgeway Behavioral Health moves in. 

Morrison said he understands people believe that a drug outpatient center will be surrounded by criminal behavior. People who go to the center are either coming of their own choice or as part of a court sentence. Most drive themselves or are driven by a parent. When therapy is over, they leave, he said.

"We are and always have been good neighbors, people who are coming to us are coming to get help, they aren't coming to get a drink; they're not coming to get drugs," he said.  

The center would be open 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.