A Planned Development Amendment for a not-for-profit drug and alcohol recovery center sponsored by the Jackson Rancheria was approved Monday night at the Jackson Planning Commission meeting. The center will be located at 975 Broadway, which had previously been used as the Emmanuel Baptist Church. The center will be operational during the day and evening hours so that those who work or have other obligations can attend a meeting at their convenience, however, it is not an overnight facility. The intended purpose of the center is to focus on maintaining sobriety, and it will host 12-Step meetings, vocational skills and development, daycare, community workshops, and will rent out rooms for programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Alateen.

Tony Capasso, Vice President of Real Estate and Facilities for the Rancheria, was on hand to answer questions from the Commission and from the public. The biggest concern from the public seemed to be the location of the facility, which is directly across from a large scale apartment complex and is bordered by residential communities.  Other concerned citizens questioned a potential increase in pedestrian and vehicle traffic. But supporters of the center, including Kathy DuBois, reminded the public that drug and alcohol abuse is a “very serious problem here in the county,” and cited the rise in substance use in the high schools. 

Supporters argued that the facility would be centrally located to support a number of alcoholics who have lost driving privileges as a result of DUI’s. Commissioner Dave Butow stated that “people get caught up in the fear of the unknown”, but also explained that he thought the Rancheria should have done a “much better job of telling the surrounding community” of the center. The Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the amendment, with Commissioners Devlin and Butow opposing.