Related
Translate
Previous entry: Trial of French Islamic Radical Sheds Light on Converts’ Role
Next entry: Bush could bypass new torture ban
Get RNB via RSS
 |
RNB's RSS feed What is this? |
Get RNB via Email
 |
 Subscribe by Email What is this? |
Follow: Twitter
Most Popular
This Week:
- Guyana’s Jonestown suicide site gets plaque
- Gaddafi preaches Islam to Rome beauties
- Scientology practices ‘putting people at risk’
- Recession: Muslim schools in UK under threat of closure
- Australian senator tells Parliament of widespread criminal conduct within the Church of Scientology
- When a child dies, faith is no defense
- Muslim terrorists smuggle fatwas promoting Jihad out of secure UK prisons
- Techie Holy water and geeky bishops
- Israel Charges Extremist With Attempted Murder Of Messianic Family
- Scientology’s feet held to the fire in Australia: Struggle between a church and the state
Planners OK Scientology rehab center
More articles on this topic: Doors to a Scientology-based drug rehabilitation center are expected to open near Leona Valley after county planners gave conditional approval Wednesday for the facility in rustic Bouquet Canyon.
But first Narconon Southern California has to do more community outreach to the small community in the Leona Valley area about 10 miles from the proposed adult drug-and-alcohol center.
Such outreach was among conditions imposed Wednesday by the county’s Regional Planning Commission during a public hearing for a permit to develop the center on a 30.4-acre site. Commissioners voted unanimously in support of the permit, but their conditions must be met before operations can begin.
Sam Dea, supervising county regional planner, said Narconon Southern California was also asked to hold open houses and meet with the Leona Valley Town Council on a regular basis to provide information about the center to residents.
The rehabilitation center has been opposed by some residents of Leona Valley’s tightly knit agricultural community of about 1,000. Opponents fear the facility could jeopardize their small-town lifestyle and safety.
Because of residents’ concerns, the Leona Valley Town Council asked the commission in a December letter to reject the rehabilitation center’s application.
Wednesday’s nod from the commission had little effect on the council’s position about the center.
“My personal position doesn’t matter, but my position … is against it only because the community is against it,” said Mike Waters, council president.
Waters said that Catherine L. Savage, a representative from Narconon Southern California, attended a monthly meeting of the council last year and announced plans for the facility. He said there was little discussion then because the council had received no advance information.
Later, he said, residents were notified by letters in December that the county commission would hold a public hearing, and the letters gave details.
The community then had about a week to send written responses to planners, Waters said, so the council quickly drafted survey forms and dropped them in mailboxes. Asked for responses within two days, residents called for the council to oppose a permit for the facility at 36491 Bouquet Canyon Road.
No new buildings are planned for the facility on the canyon property that was once a children’s boarding school. Instead, the former school buildings will be converted into the treatment center housing up to 66 rehabilitation clients at a time, plus employees.
Plans for the property include three dormitories, a kitchen and dining area, classrooms, staff facilities, a 29-vehicle parking lot and a swimming pool, according to a commission staff report.
The parking parking lot must be repaired and the driveway improved under conditions imposed by the commission, Dea said. He said Narconon Southern California will have to fulfill all conditions before opening for business and then will need final approval from commissioners.
Savage is expected to attend the Leona Valley Town Council’s next meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 9. The council meets at the Leona Valley Improvement Association Community Building, 8367 Elizabeth Lake Road.
Savage did not return phone calls for comment.
What You Can Do From Here
|
Read More Articles On These Topics
Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article
Subscribe
Read Another Article
Previous entry: Trial of French Islamic Radical Sheds Light on Converts’ Role Next entry: Bush could bypass new torture ban
RNB Homepage with latest headlinesFind Related Information
Find Related Books
|
Share This Article
To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:
