The Butte County Board of Supervisors today backed off a decision to essentially shut down a church operation near Forest Ranch known as the Chico Goddess Temple.
Last July, the board voted 3-2 to deny an appeal by Robert Seals, who heads a Universal Life Church chapter on the 80-acre Goddess Temple Property.
Seals was appealing an earlier Planning Commission decision that barred him from continuing to to use his property for church events, including retreat gatherings, concerts and weddings.
Seals, the founder of the popular "Klean Kanteen" products, has had the property for 30 years. But neighbors have complained about activities at the temple in recent years.
But today, in the face of a civil rights lawsuit by the church, supevisors voted 4-1 to vacate its earlier decision and send the issue back to the planning commission for a second look.
Supervisor Larry Wahl was the dissenting vote.
