Pubdate: Tue, 03 Dec 2002
Source: Intelligencer, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002, OSPREY MEDIA GROUP INC.
Contact:  http://www.intelligencer.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2332
Author: Jeremy Ashley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

MARMORA COUNCIL REJECTS DRUG TREATMENT CENTRE

4-0 vote against rezoning application

Local News - MARMORA -- Before a town hall packed with close to 125 people, 
council here unanimously denied a rezoning application that would allow a 
former motel to house a drug treatment centre.

The move followed a special rezoning hearing Monday night, called to allow 
those opposed and in favour of allowing Narconon to legally continue in the 
former Treelawny Hotel.

Narconon is a drug rehabilitation program with close ties to the Church of 
Scientology and utilizes the methods of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. 
The establishment of a Narconon facility in Marmora has caused huge rifts 
in segments of the community, 40 km northwest of Belleville.

After almost two hours of public deputations regarding the application, 
council, in a recorded vote of 4-0 voted in favor of denying the 
application to rezone the site.

Reeve Lionel Bennett declared a conflict of interest because his company 
insures the property in question.

Although the owner of the property, Toronto resident and businessman 
Devinder Luthra, plans to appeal the decision to the Ontario Municipal 
Board later this year, the move marked the culmination of months of public 
debate regarding the property.

Luthra purchased the Highway 7 property in late August and his daughter, 
Penny, established the program soon thereafter.

Rumours circulating in the tight-knit community of 1,500 soon turned into 
public outcry when it came to light that the property was not properly 
zoned to house a drug rehabilitation centre.

Eventually, following a number of letters and phone calls to local 
newspapers and Marmora councillors, Luthra was forced to apply to rezone 
the motel as a commercial property with a specific use.

Both sides squared off in front of council, Monday, with seven deputations 
speaking in favour of the application while 14 spoke against.

On one side, proponents of the endeavor -- six of whom were from the 
Toronto area -- told of the benefits of the program and attempted to dispel 
rumours that Narconon would not only bring an influx of criminal activity 
to the area, but that the operation is an attempt by the Church of 
Scientology to infiltrate the region.

In opposition, Marmora residents -- who presented a petition with more than 
350 names of locals opposed to the application -- rallied against the 
establishment, saying the program would have a negative effect on the area 
by effectively labeling the region a "drug treatment centre" for outsiders.

"We will be taking this to the OMB (Ontario Municipal Board)," pledged 
Penny Luthra following the decision.

Currently, she noted, the facility -- which can service up to 15 people -- 
houses one "student" and two counsellors.

The patients arrive at the centre "from all over Canada," she noted.

During the meeting, her father Devinder -- a devout Sikh -- said he bought 
the property because he "wanted to bring peace and harmony and revenue to 
this town."

He claimed he purchased the property with the intent of establishing the 
centre only after extensively researching Narconon.

"I am not a Scientologist... I am not a part of Scientology," the Toronto 
businessman added. "I like the way they treat their patients... I want to 
do some good work for this society."

As for members of the community who feel their safety is threatened by 
having former drug addicts in the town, he maintained that "none of the 
students are permitted to leave (the premises of the facility) without a 
staff member. They don't do anything mischievous. I am concerned about the 
safety of the local people -- I am a new part of Marmora (and) I want this 
town to flourish."

A number of Scientology and Narconon supporters insisted Narconon is an 
arm's length organization of Scientology.

Reverend Al Buttnor of the Office of Public Affairs of the Church of 
Scientology rose to say what was before council "was only a zoning issue," 
and councillors were not called to make a judgment either on Narconon or 
Scientology.

"You are dealing with people who are part of the community themselves... 
wanting to improve themselves," he contended.

"Just because somebody's getting off drugs doesn't mean they are a pariah 
of the community... they're trying to improve their lives."

Compared to some of the clientele who used to live in the motel when it was 
in commercial operation, Buttnor said "we're not looking at something 
radically different here."

Buttnor went on to say "there aren't any hidden agendas," with the 
establishment of the Narconon program in Marmora, and attempted to dispel 
myths that the "Scientologists are buying up the community... this is just 
terrible rhetoric.

"If the community does have a concern, the town council can appoint 
townspeople to come into the facility at any time. The bottom line here is 
that we're here to help people."

Buttnor's comments were echoed by many who took the stand after him, 
including Toronto businessman Julian Hay, a Scientologist who was a 12-year 
heroin addict before entering the Narconon program close to 20 years ago.

He spoke of the program's natural approach to drug rehabilitation, which 
includes exercise, proper eating and vitamin supplements.

"Narconon is completely non-denominational," he said. "It doesn't recognize 
a religious philosophy -- it's about getting people off of drugs."

Those opposed to the application quickly lined up to be heard from the podium.

Marmora resident Susan Connolly picked apart the zoning application, 
stating it was presented without proper site plan documents and the 
proposed land use was wrongly classified.

"I would suggest to you that this site does not qualify for rezoning," she 
proclaimed.

Mike and Yvonne McGrath said the municipality should be pushing for more 
tourism industry for the region -- not drug treatment facilities.

Local Ted Bonter said the establishment of Narconon "contributes nothing to 
the betterment of this community," and suggested Devinder reopen the 
facility as a motel.

"This thing has evolved from under the table -- it was a smoke-screen from 
the beginning, and is tonight," he said as the room filled with applause.

Stuart Newton said the community "does not want to be known as a drug 
treatment centre," to outsiders.

Following the meeting, Devinder did not say when he would be filing an 
official appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board regarding the rezoning 
application.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom