A recent appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) to establish a Scientology-based drug and rehabilitation facility on Milburough Line has been denied.

The provincial ruling upheld a decision made by the Town of Milton’s committee of adjustment to deny the application of Social Betterment Properties International (SBPI), to set up a Narconon treatment facility at 7651 Milburough Line. If approved, the facility would have seen up to 10 people at a time receive addiction treatment using “drug replacement therapy” favoured by scientologists, including detoxifying sauna sessions and high doses of vitamins.

“The decision had nothing to do with the validity of the service or the need for it. It was strictly on planning grounds, as it should be,” said Ward 3 Councillor Cindy Lunau, whose ward includes the Milburough Line address.

The decision was, according to the OMB case file, based on the definition of what constitutes a “group home type 2.” The bylaw states this type of facility is to be “licensed, approved or supervised, or funded by the province of Ontario.” It didn’t meet any of these criteria.