CopperWynd Resort in Fountain Hills is seeking to transition into an upscale, luxury health and wellness center to become the “CopperWynd Resort and Club Wellness Centre.”

Part of achieving that goal, according to attorney Jordan Rose with the Rose Law Group, is to provide treatment facilities that, among other things, may address those seeking rehabilitation from drug or alcohol addiction.

As a result, the resort has applied to the Town of Fountain Hills for a special use permit to provide the drug and alcohol rehab services.

Rose notes that the treatment aspect of the resort will focus on the broader “wellness” aspects of the individual’s life. The drug and alcohol rehabilitation are expected to be only a small part of that.

The narrative for the application presented to the town states “CopperWynd will offer the services of an exclusive, luxury healing center emphasizing whole body health and wellness with a particular focus on supporting guests as they achieve healing, self-awareness and encouraging healthy behavior patterns.”

Visitors may be seeking healing related to a variety of conditions including weight loss, marital counseling, mood and anxiety disorders, “destressing” and other similar issues.

Addictions such as to drugs or alcohol are included in those conditions.

The town’s Zoning Ordinance requires a special use permit only if drug and alcohol rehab is more than 50 percent of the business.

Rose said CopperWynd expects those services to be well below the 50 percent level. However, to operate and provide the drug and alcohol therapy at less than 50 percent without the use permit requires detailed monitoring to verify those services are not the primary business of the resort.

Rose said they chose to request the SUP to eliminate the need for the continuous tallying of guests.

CopperWynd will continue to have the operations it currently does with guest rooms for weekend and other short-term stays, according to Rose. However, the club’s owners also have the desire to provide the high-end wellness spa services similar to the world class spas at Tucson’s Canyon Ranch, Miraval, Passages Malibu and other resorts found throughout the world.

The resort expects to include on its staff professional therapists and counselors, as well as expand the existing service staff for massage and exercise.

The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing related to the special use permit when it meets on Thursday, April 14. The meetings are held in council chambers at Town Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Following the hearing the commission will consider a recommendation to the Town Council regarding the permit.

The meeting is open to the public.

The council is scheduled to hold a separate hearing and consider whether to grant the permit at is session on Thursday, May 5.