Cassian board updates residents on CUP application for proposed facility

A conditional use permit (CUP) application has been submitted to the Oneida County Planning and Zoning Department in connection with a proposed rehab facility the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC) wishes to build in the town of Cassian, the town board has reported.

The update on the proposed facility came during a regular town board meeting Monday evening.

The Adolescent Recovery and Wellness Center would be a 40-bed residential facility with Native American youth being the priority, according to GLITC.

The project has been the source of controversy since it was announced this summer. with opponents and supporters creating Facebook pages to amplify their message. 

Opponents have created the “Stop the Cassian Rehab” Facebook page while supporters run a page called “Be Curious About The Cassian rehab Center.” Both pages have roughly the same amount of followers.

During Monday’s meeting, town chair Patty Francoeur said the town board has consulted with attorney Frank Kowalkowski on this matter.

She listed “recommendations” or “options” Kowalkowski said the town “might have” with respect to the rehab facility project.

“So I got some updated information from him for some documentation that he wants to be able to review so that he can make a determination and then present back to us … should we decide to do further financial spending,” Francoeur said. “But at least we’ll have some idea on what options we might have to oppose it, prevent it, stop it. And that’s where we’re at right now.”

Town supervisor John Schaub said he’s stayed in contact with Oneida County planning and zoning director Karl Jennrich. Schaub went on to report that Jennrich contacted him on Sept. 20 to inform him that a conditional use permit (CUP) was submitted for the rehab facility. He said Jennrich explained to him that the planning and zoning department was working to “catch up” on certain things, including the “Minocqua Brewing situation.”

“He said they had like 126 complaints on his desk that he had to cover with that,” Schaub said. “So they didn’t get at it right away.”

On Oct. 2, Schaub said Jennrich told him county land use specialist Scott Ridderbusch had begun reviewing the CUP application. 

“They have it listed as a 36-bed, 44-employee CBRF, they didn’t list it as a rehab center,” Schaub explained. “The CBRF is a community based residential facility, and as of right now, I talked to Karl this morning and he said that because a CBRF is actually … no one under 18 can be in a CBRF. But he said they are dealing with the state right now to change it to a juvenile CBRF.”

Besides the CUP application, Schaub said no other building or zoning permit applications have been filed with the county at this point.

Schaub said Jennrich told him that he requested GLITC file for the needed permits “because some of their (county’s) concerns are what the youth activities would be, whether they have fencing or not, what type of security they’re having, what their septic system setup is going to be … what type of delivery area are (they) gonna have and their food service.”

“So as of today, that’s all we really know,” he said. 

Francoeur then opened the discussion up to the public. She said the town board is trying to follow the matter “very closely” and is working to be transparent “the best we can.”

A resident asked Schaub if county planning and zoning staff will inform him when the planning and development committee schedules a meeting to vote on the CUP application.

Schaub said he would. 

“Remember, they (GLITC) wanted to break ground in October,” the resident said.

Francoeur outlined a state statute that could benefit the town board’s opposition to the project. 

“One of the statutes indicates that the community-based residential facility could be prohibited by a town if the number of beds approved reaches 25, or one percent of the population of the district or ward,” she said. 

Schaub pointed out that Kowalkowski reminded him GLITC presented the project as a “rehab center,” but now it’s being applied for as a “CBRF.”

“So, remember it was listed as a rehab center,” he said. “And more than likely, that’s still in the back of their head that that’s what it’s gonna be.”

“And again, we’re trying to make sure we’re keeping this as this is a facility,” Francoeur said. “It has nothing to do with anything except does this facility belong, and does it belong where they’re trying to put it? And not trying to make it anything political of any kind of nature; just what’s best for the town of Cassian.”

Schaub also told the group that Jennrich warned him about a potential “legal battle.”

“He said he’s been in several, and it’s not pretty,” Schaub reported. 

Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].