A Google Maps image showing Villa Bianca off Roosevelt Drive in Seymour.
SEYMOUR – A public hearing on a proposed zone text change that could potentially pave the way for the Villa Bianca venue to be converted into a residential mental health facility is scheduled for Jan. 12.
The Seymour Planning and Zoning Commission will hold the hearing at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 1 First St. Click here to read the public hearing agenda.
The commission, at its Nov. 10 meeting, was prepared to hear a request from Newport Institute — a national health rehabilitation center for adolescents and young adults — for the zone text change. The applicant, however, requested that the hearing be postponed.
Attorney Matthew Ranelli, representing Newport Institute, said the applicant has requested a zone text amendment to allow a residential mental health facility in the existing RC‑3, or recreational/commercial zone. Click here for a previous Valley Indy story.
The town’s current zoning regulations do not allow residential mental health facilities in an RC‑3 zone.
The commission would have to vote in favor of adding such a facility in that zone before any building permits or site plans could be submitted, according to Town Planner Keith Rosenfeld. No such plans, to date, have been submitted to the town — but formal plans would be submitted if the commission agrees on the zone text change.
The commission has also scheduled a meeting for 7 p.m. (one hour after the public hearing) in the same location. The agenda lists the zone-text changes, but doesn’t indicate whether the items will be discussed, or voted upon. Click here to read the 7 p.m. agenda.
Ranelli said that Newport Institute is under contract to purchase the Villa Bianca property, located at 312 Roosevelt Drive, across from the Housatonic River. The 18,000 square-foot facility is a popular place for weddings, and is still open for business. An employee at Villa who answered the phone Thursday (Jan. 5) confirmed the facility is open, and said the owner or manager were not available for comment. The venue’s website and Facebook page is still active.
The facility Newport would like to build here would be a live-in, residential mental health facility that would offer in-patient treatment programs for people with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma and substance use, according to Ranelli.
The Newport Institute specializes in the treatment of young adults between 18 and 25, according to its website.
“Newport’s proposal is a good fit because it will provide needed mental health services at a very well-suited location while also providing a significant number of local jobs, increase the appearance of the property and improve the existing buildings,” Ranelli said. “The proposed facility will expand access to much needed mental health treatment for young adults.”
Ranelli said Newport has several facilities in Connecticut, including in Bethlehem, Darien and Fairfield and believes Seymour is a good location to expand the services. He also told the Valley Indy that the Seymour facility would bring more than 100 jobs to town.
The Valley Indy previously asked Seymour’s Economic Development Consultant Sheila O’Malley her thoughts on a potential mental health facility for the Villa Bianca property.
“I don’t like this idea for Seymour; it’s not the best fit or the highest and best use for the property,” O’Malley said. “And it doesn’t help with economic development in town.”
Reported mental health issues have increased significantly in recent years, especially for young people. Meanwhile, accessing mental health services for families can be nearly impossible thanks to long waitlists and a shortage of counselors.
