The city of Lakeway revoked a building permit Friday for Recovery Ways, an addiction rehabilitation facility proposed to be built on Lohmans Crossing Drive in Lakeway.

City Manager Steve Jones said city staff members reviewed the proposed project and determined such projects are not allowed uses in the commercial office-retail zoning district, the current zoning for the property where the project is proposed, according to a city press release.

The site development permit previously issued for the project will be rescinded and the company will be advised to cease construction under that permit.

The action comes on the heels of an informal town hall Wednesday at Lakeway Activity Center in which many residents expressed emotions ranging from concern to outrage that the Salt Lake City-based company had received site plan approval for and started construction on a facility next to Lakeway Elementary School and near an assisted living center and residential neighborhoods.

“I don’t want Charlie Sheen next to my elementary school,” declared resident Laurie Higginbotham who has started an online petition against the proposed location.

Maryann Rosenthal, Recovery Ways executive director, said the action did not come as a surprise and that the company hoped to work with the city to find solutions and avoid trial proceedings.

“We want to work with the city toward a resolution. No one wants it to be combative,” Rosenthal said. “We made that decision certainly based on the meeting and the community view, as well as what I think is now the city council’s view.”

Lakeway Mayor Dave DeOme said Recovery Ways had listed the building use as a convalescent center, which does not fit within the city’s commercial zoning regulations.

“This is not appropriate, and so we’ve worked through the whole week to see if we, in fact, had the ability to take the permit away from these people,” DeOme said. “The belief that we have come to – and our legal staff has agreed with us – is that this is not a use that is described in the C-1 zoning.”

The mayor said he believed that if Recovery Ways seeks to relocate their site elsewhere in Lakeway, the company would be required to go through a hearing process by Lakeway Zoning and Planning Commission and City Council that would be open to the public for comment.

“This is not a convalescent home. It does not fit this zone; the staff [originally] believed it did. I’m not saying they are in error, but when the city manager looked at this, he said, ‘No, it does not,’” DeOme explained.

Haythem Dawlett, who sold the land to Recovery Ways on Aug. 3, 2011, said he has not been involved as an investor or in any capacity since the property closing.

“It sounds like a first class facility that provides a high level of service, based on what I heard at the town hall meeting. However, I am not sure that this particular location is most suitable for this type of facility,” Dawlett said.

Lake Travis school district supported residents’ and parents’ concerns about the proximity of the proposed treatment center to Lakeway Elementary.

“While we respect the intent of the proposed project, we ultimately support the expectations of our parents and residents to maintain a safe environment for our students and school community,” superintendent Brad Lancaster wrote. “Furthermore, after learning more about the proposed project last night, we have the utmost confidence that the City of Lakeway and the parties involved in this proposed project will soon arrive at a resolution.”