San Diego Union-Tribune, Oct. 19, 2002
http://www.signonsandiego.com/
By Brian E. Clark
The county Planning Commission yesterday approved a residential drug treatment and rehabilitation center in Warner Springs.
The Narconon center would be housed in a former motel and two houses off state Route 79. It would serve up to 30 people ages 18 to 25, and they would be treated by a staff of 15, three who would live at the center. Patients would pay $22,000 to participate in a voluntary six-month program.
The project – which had many supporters at yesterday’s commission hearing – was approved in a 4-0 vote, with Michael York absent.
But opponents vow to appeal the project to the Board of Supervisors.
Judy von Detjen, who lives nearby the proposed center, said she was concerned about security and the effect the center would have on water levels in neighborhood wells and on traffic.
Commissioner Michael Beck said the land-use issues raised by von Detjen and others had been addressed by county staff, and he said he believed the center would benefit the area.
Gerry Marshall, executive director of the facility, said those with violent criminal backgrounds would be screened out. He said patients would go through detoxification at a Newport Beach center before entering the Warner Springs center.