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Drug and alcohol addiction treatment center approved on Goeglein

Residential center could serve 20 people
The former hostel near Goeglein Gulch Road is being remodeled into the Durango Recovery Center for those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. The center plans to open in January 2017.

Residential drug and alcohol addiction treatment may become more available, after the Durango Planning Commission unanimously approved the Durango Recovery Center plans for the final time Tuesday.

The Durango City Council and the Planning Commission previously approved plans for the Durango Recovery Center, which expects to open near Goeglein Gulch Road in a former hostel.

The center plans a Jan. 1, 2017, opening, and will initially serve eight patients. When fully built out, it will serve 20 patients, said Dr. Dan Caplin, who is opening the center. Caplin also runs Southern Rockies Addiction Treatment Services.

Thus far, Caplin has not heard any major opposition.

“Everybody says this is the perfect spot for something like this in town,” he said.

The city received two emails and a phone call opposing the center, but no one came to the meeting to speak against it.

Several commissioners still encouraged Caplin to talk with the neighbors.

“I just think, out of an abundance of caution, there should be a neighborhood meeting,” Commissioner Joe Lewandowski said.

Now that the project has been approved, two buildings on the hostel site will have major renovations. A commercial kitchen will be added to the house, and the garage and apartment space will be remodeled to accommodate more bedrooms. South of the garage, a semi-attached building will be built to house six patients who will be medically treated for their addiction.

The commission granted the center the ability to open on about half an acre, a full acre is required according to the code.

The center was also granted a parking variance. Normally, two spaces for each patient and spaces for employees are required. The center plans to maintain the 15 parking spaces it has now. Staff members supported this because none of the patients will be allowed to have cars, and weekend visiting hours will be limited.

The center will offer experiential treatment such as rafting, horseback riding and sailing to help residents heal, Caplin said.

mshinn@durangoherald.com

Jun 27, 2016
Drug, alcohol residential treatment center proposed on Goeglein Gulch Road


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