Rob VanEggen, chairman of the Seymour Planning & Zoning Commission, addresses residents at the end of Thursday's meeting.
SEYMOUR — Newport Healthcare, the company seeking a zone-text change that could lead to Villa Bianca being converted into a residential mental health treatment facility, told residents Thursday that the facility would be a good neighbor.
About 30 residents showed up at Seymour Town Hall for the continuation of the Seymour Planning and Zoning Commission’s public hearing on Newport’s request to add the phrase “community mental health residential living center” to the entire RC‑3 zone. Approving the language would give Newport Healthcare a green light to submit a site plan to the commission.
The initial public hearing on Jan. 12 drew a standing-room only crowd of more than 75 people. The majority of people who spoke at the first hearing urged the commission to reject Newport Healthcare’s request.
The commission had said the second hearing would only be for the private business to address concerns raised by the public during the first hearing — but then said members of the public who didn’t speak Jan. 12 could also speak at the second hearing.
If the zone-text change is approved, Newport could submit a site plan application for what they envision for the Seymour facility. The site plan would explain precisely what the company wants to do.
Newport officials gave a brief overview at the Jan. 12 public hearing of their plans, saying Villa Bianca would be converted into a 42-bed facility with about 125 employees that treat young adults for various mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and substance abuse.
Newport is under contract to purchase Villa Bianca, a wedding venue at 312 Roosevelt Dr., as well as a house next door at 129 Squantuck Road. Villa Bianca’s owners announced on Facebook the facility will close later this year, but then removed the post. The business has not returned calls for comment.
Newport CEO Joe Procopio said the main part of Villa would house 36 beds, and the nearby house would have six beds.
During Thursday’s hearing, six speakers urged the commission to reject the proposal.
Roosevelt Drive resident Corey Firmender said traffic is already heavy in the area, with cars and trucks traveling at speeds much higher than the posted 40 m.p.h. speed limit. He worried about the safety of people receiving treatment.
“All people have to do is walk 50 feet out (of the facility) and they’ll get hit by a semi-truck and if they walk out another few feet, they’ll go right into the river,” Firmender said. “These are young patients with suicidal tendencies, and this would not be a locked-down facility. If they die, it’s on your conscience.”
Attorney Matthew Ranelli, representing Newport, said a traffic study commissioned showed there would be no increase in traffic — and an actual decrease in traffic during the evening rush hour. Patients would not be allowed to have cars, and while the facility would not be locked down, there would be 24/7 supervision, security personnel, and security cameras throughout the facility.
Many residents said Roosevelt Drive (state Route 34) is plagued by accidents — the state installed rumble strips in the middle of the road to improve safety — but, according to state statistics from the last three years up until Jan. 9 of this year, there have been five accidents, Ranelli said.
Procopio also said the facility would not be a hospital.
“If someone needs hospital-level care, they won’t be with us,” he said. “And I don’t think anyone is more concerned with patient safety than me. We don’t lock people in, but we have 24/7 supervision and security and window and door alarms.”
Ranelli also addressed other concerns, citing the following:
* There would be no out-patient treatment services, people can’t drive up and get care
* All clients are screened by licensed professionals before being accepted into care
* The facility is fully licensed and accredited, subject to regular and unannounced inspections
Ranelli also read letters of support from police, fire and ambulance officials in Bethlehem, where one of Newport’s facilities is located, who said Newport is a good neighbor, willing to work out any issues that arise, and are generous donors to town organizations.
“Newport is providing service for people who need a safe place to get treatment,” Ranelli said. “There’s a severe shortage of services to help with that.”
Newport was established in 2008 in California and has facilities in 11 states treating adolescents and young adults with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, and substance abuse.
Newport has three facilities in Connecticut: Bethlehem, Darien and Fairfield.
After about 90 minutes, the commission closed the hearing and now has 65 days to vote. The commission meets again on March 9.
