Neighbors urge Placer County to scrutinize proposed Newcastle detox campus, raising safety, water and traffic concerns

Sherry Larson and more than 60 neighbors told the Placer County Planning Commission that a proposed True North Detox (First Steps Recovery) project on the former Pescatory Winery site in Newcastle is out of character for the rural neighborhood and would stress local services.

"True North Detox plans to tear out all of the vineyards," said Sherry Larson, adding that neighbors worry the luxury residential detox campus would be intentionally sited in rural, farm areas and could threaten the county's wine-tourism identity. Larson also reported that Tim Wagner, identified in public comment as Placer County’s chief building official, and his family previously sold the Pescatory property to True North Detox; that sale was raised as a factual timeline and not adjudicated in the hearing.

Neighbor Renee Dubois said the district’s vision for ‘‘friendly small‑town’’ rural communities does not square with a detox campus that could bring frequent vehicle trips, increased staff shifts and potential evacuation complications on narrow roads near livestock and wineries. "Will impact water, sewage, roads," Dubois said, urging the commission to expect more written concerns from the affected neighborhood.

Bordering property owner Scott Graves described family ties to the land and said he was told the operator expected "upwards of 60 cars a day," and that the applicant refers to the development as a "campus" for 30-plus people plus staff. Graves said public-safety concerns and community impacts would be better addressed by siting such facilities in industrial areas.

Laurie Peltz Lewis cited narrow local roads, an alleged late-night disturbance at the existing facility and groundwater fears, noting USGS reports that pharmaceuticals can persist in groundwater. "I use a well for drinking," she said, asking whether county services and fire response capacity would be strained and whether operators would help cover added service costs.

County staff clarified that the application is a minor use permit and initially under the zoning administrator’s jurisdiction but could still come before the Planning Commission. Planning Director Chris Pahule said staff is drafting revisions to the residential-care-home ordinance, will hold a town hall in February and anticipated bringing a draft ordinance to the commission in the March timeframe after public input.

The Planning Commission did not take any formal action on this specific minor use permit during the meeting; commissioners encouraged neighbors to engage with planning staff and indicated they would consider asking the zoning administrator to bring similar matters before the commission so the body could weigh in.

The next procedural step for this permit, per staff statements, is the zoning-administrator review and any subsequent Planning Commission hearing if the zoning administrator or applicant seeks that route.