COUNTY OKS REHABILITATION CENTER PLAN.

Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Staff Writer

ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST - A one-time boarding school tucked deep in Bouquet Canyon will reopen as a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility with ties to the Church of Scientology.

Despite protests from some residents in the rustic communities of Green Valley and Leona Valley, the nearest communities to the 30.4-acre spot, the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission on Wednesday approved the Narconon residential facility to serve 66 adults.

In a last-minute effort, the Leona Valley Town Council submitted a letter urging the commission to consider further conditions on the center proposed for Bouquet Canyon Road near Spunky Canyon Road to ease residents' concerns, said James Bell, a member of the county planning staff.

Bell said he expected residents to appeal the ruling and take the issue to the Board of Supervisors for another hearing.

The commission tentatively had approved the project Jan. 5, but had asked Narconon Southern California to meet with residents in hopes of alleviating their concerns and seeking compromises. At that hearing, opponents said they feared that the facility could impact their small-town lifestyle and safety.

Narconon plans no new buildings on the property, which once was a ranch and now is private land inside the Angeles National Forest boundaries, but will add parking.

Former school buildings will be converted into three dormitories to house patients, a kitchen and dining area, classrooms and offices for some 33 staff members, according to a commission staff report. Some repairs are needed before the facility - vacant more than a year - reopens.

The property has been eyed for several uses over the years. Until 1992 it was a group foster home for boys. Since then, the county has approved various plans for boarding schools and one for a privately run detention facility for parole violators.

The land is owned by a Scientology religious trust. Narconon is a church program. Catherine L. Savage, a representative from Narconon Southern California, did not return a call seeking comment.

Patricia Farrell Aidem, [phone]

pat.aidem(at)dailynews.com