Businesses in Albany's Pine West Plaza filed suit against the city and owner of the Camino Nuevo methadone clinic, claiming the Planning Board neglected to examine public safety, transportation and other concerns when it recently approved a permit allowing the clinic to move from it's nine-year downtown location at 175 Central Ave., to 1 United Way.

Public accounting firm Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte, Kenda Zappia dentistry, the Sylvan Learning Center and Bodywork For Wellness, which would all be located near the new Camino Nuevo location, filed the legal action Thursday seeking to annul the clinic's permit. In the suit, the businesses say relocating the methadone clinic to the area off Washington Avenue would jeopardize the safety, security and economic stability of the surrounding community.

The suit calls the city's approval of a conditional use permit allowing the relocation arbitrary, capricious and in violation of law, and also names Promesa Foundation, Inc., which it identifies as a not-for-profit based in the Bronx that owns and operates the clinic. 

The city says it does not comment on pending litigation. Camino Nuevo didn't immediately return a request for comment.

Camino Nuevo operates under state and federal guidelines. Its location was chosen in 2015 by Acacia Network’s Camino Nuevo and approved by the state Office of Addiction Services and the city of Albany, based on a needs analysis conducted at the time.

City and Albany County officials have said in recent years they want the Camino Nuevo clinic moved from Central Avenue, citing complaints about safety from business owners, residents and school leaders in the area.

The suit filed Thursday alleges the Planning Board neglected to fully examine the issue of crime, "especially when such data was available and directly relevant to the community’s safety concerns.” It says the clinic's planned relocation lacks a safety plan for the area.