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EAST OF TALENT Circle of Trust rehab center gets final OK from county Neighbors had appealed prior approval, could still take case to state panel Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Aug. 2, 2015 at 5:50 PM Updated Aug 2, 2015 at 5:52 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Aug. 2, 2015 at 5:50 PM Updated Aug 2, 2015 at 5:52 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Luxury rehab center planned at former Circle of Teran church • Hotel owners Doug and Becky Neuman buy Circle of Teran • State board rules in favor of church near Ashland • Circle of Teran retreat up for sale at $6.7 million » Social News The Circle of Trust luxury residential treatment facility proposed for an existing mansion in the hills east of Talent has been given final approval by the Jackson County Hearings Officer and will proceed with hiring. Plans call for it to open in the late fall. The center was opposed by neighbors who objected that the new use of the property is not consistent with its Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) zoning and would create problems, including traffic, parking, road maintenance, wildfire safety and potential security threats by patients. The county in May approved it and noted, in its more recent decision denying an appeal requesting that decision be overturned, that it is “the county’s final decision in the matter.” There is, however, a 21-day window for the issue to be appealed to the state Land Use Board of Appeals. The appeal of the county’s May decision was made by Dr. Philip and Debbi Paden. It was also signed by Kent Erskine & Dona Zimmerman, Marla Morrissey, David & Ruth Alexander, Lee & Joanne Weisel, Loren & Joanne Luman, Carol Balone and KanDu Ranch LLC. Debbi Paden said her husband has not read the county’s recent ruling and they haven’t decided yet whether to appeal it to LUBA. In his decision, Hearings Officer Donald Rubenstein said the center is “high end,” intended to cost $40,000 a month per patient. It’s gated, on an extremely isolated, mile-long road, so its isolation will prevent patients from “simply wandering off.” Staff will be present 24 hours a day and patients won’t be allowed cars, so they can’t drive off, he notes. The neighbors argued state law bars a residential facility in EFU zoning. Rubenstein saw merit in the conflict with ensuing state rule-making, but said the county can’t overrule state law.  Since the appellants, in the earlier hearing, didn’t bring up the center’s alleged failure to comply with Wildfire Safety Standards, Rubenstein declined to consider it. The county rejected the notion that the access road, though sometimes steep and winding, was “anything other than well-maintained” with adequate pullouts. Appellants alleged vehicles had gone off steep embankments and that emergency vehicles wouldn’t be familiar with it, but Rubenstein said these weren’t proven or were speculative. He noted that the applicant had pledged to carpool and keep traffic at a minimum and, if the house were used as regular residence, traffic could be much more than planned by the center. The county rejected notions the center would force a significant change in farm practices of neighbors, through traffic, misuse of fire or patients fleeing the site. Patients would be monitored by cameras, live in a nonsmoking environment and, since they are there voluntarily and paying for it, they would be expected to leave only on their request and in a family member’s vehicle. The site’s use as a church had none of these impacts, he said. Parking is also adequate, he said. Appellants said the center would disrupt elk habits but, after consultation with the state Fish & Wildlife staff, the county said any impact would be the same as with farms. The response of Norma Burton, the center’s chief executive officer and executive director, was delight. “We’re elated, happy this can go forth now, because it can serve so many people and is a great business for this county and can employ so many people,” said Burton is the minister of Unity Ashland, a church, but emphasizes the center is not connected with the church. The center will be her full-time work, she says, and the church is part-time. She has worked in trauma and recovery with battered women in New Mexico, she says. With the final approval, the Circle of Trust, a limited liability corporation, will close escrow this week, she said. The seller is Ashland hotelier Douglas Neuman, who bought the house and 96 acres at auction last year. The 11,000-square-foot mansion was built in 2000 by plastic surgeon Scott Young and his wife Sulara, who waged a successful legal battle to have their church, the Circle of Teran, officially declared a church. That tax status was granted in 2008, about the time the couple put it on the market. Burton argued that a residential treatment facility is a use allowed by the state on EFU land. She said she hopes neighbors won’t appeal to LUBA, as “this facility is going to be there. An appeal won’t stop it … It’s to their benefit to work with us now to make this the best possible thing for all.” Its website, www.circleoftrustcenter.com, is advertising for a range of professionals, including a marketing consultant, medical director, psychologist-clinical supervisor, certified alcohol-drug counselor, intake coordinator, chef-nutritionist, equestrian therapist and art therapist. The 15-bed center joins a network of similar centers around the country, she says, and has already been getting inquiries about referrals for clients. The center will focus on “biology, biochemistry aspects of balancing body chemistry that are essential to complete recovery. It will combine with cleansing, which not a lot of centers focus on.” According to its website, “Holistic cleansing and detoxification addresses a thorough, multiple organ and whole-body cleansing that includes reducing/eliminating your toxin intake, promoting healthy toxin elimination, and using fresh organic food, herbs, and supplements to strengthen the optimal function of the body’s organs.” John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Aug. 2, 2015 at 5:50 PM Updated Aug 2, 2015 at 5:52 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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