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Who : Medford Planning Commission What : Public hearing on a requested zone change to allow expansion of an OnTrack Inc. drug treatment facility on Delta Waters Road, just west of Foothills Road. When : 7 p.m. Thursday Where : Medford City Hall, Council Chambers, 411 W. Eighth St. OnTrack expansion decision is due East Medford opponents will testify By JIM DAVIS A controversial plan to expand an alcohol and drug treatment center in east Medford comes before the city's Planning Commission Thursday night -- again. OnTrack Inc. is requesting a zone change for the expansion of the center at 3397 Delta Waters Road in northeast Medford. The plan calls for adding 3,500 square feet to the common area, allowing the addition of 10 beds to the facility, which now serves 17 to 22 women. The Planning Commission reviewed the matter in a public hearing earlier this month, but continued the meeting until this Thursday after opponents argued they did not have enough time to prepare. The expansion issue has been a contentious one. Neighborhood opposition led to the recall of Councilman Mike Borwick during one of the first steps of the process in 1996. OnTrack officials have declined to talk about the expansion issue while it is still being considered by the commission. Bob and Diana Pierle, who live in the area, have been organizing against the proposed expansion. Diana Pierle said they are not worried much about the 10 additional beds. But she said she and her husband believe that the rezoning will pave the way for OnTrack to build transitional housing -- far more than 10 beds. Diana Pierle said that she and six others distributed 500 fliers about the zoning request before the Planning Commission meeting earlier this month. She said they have since held a community meeting at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and about 60 people showed up. "We asked for a show of hands," Pierle said. "About three quarters of the people said they would be willing to step up and speak (at Thursday's meeting.)" "Hopefully they will when they get there," she said. The nine-member Planning Commission will seat four new members at the beginning of next month. So the commission is expected to decide the issue on Thursday night, said Mark Gallagher, a senior city planner. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA