A Google Maps image showing Villa Bianca off Roosevelt Drive in Seymour.
SEYMOUR – A developer is asking the town to alter its zoning so that Villa Bianca on Roosevelt Drive can be turned into a residential mental health facility.
According to Matthew Ranelli, the lawyer for the Newport Institute, the applicant, the facility 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.
The Newport Institute specializes in the treatment of young adults between 18 and 25, according to its website.
The redevelopment plans for Villa Bianca, a wedding venue and catering hall, have not been filed with the Town of Seymour. Details like how many people would be treated there at any one time isn’t known.
At this point Newport Institute has asked the town to change the language in a way that would allow a mental health facility as a use on the property, which is zoned residential-commercial.
If the Seymour Planning and Zoning Commission agrees to alter its zoning language, that would pave the way for a site plan application from the Newport Institute to be reviewed by the commission.
A public hearing on the language change was scheduled for Nov. 10 at Seymour Town Hall – however, it was pushed to 6 p.m. Jan. 12.
Villa Bianca is at 312 Roosevelt Drive, across from the Housatonic River. The 18,000 square-foot facility is under contract to be sold to the Newport Institute. FYI: The Valley Indy is not reporting (and did not report) Villa Bianca is closed. The venue’s website and Facebook page is still active. The Valley Indy reached out to the current owner of Villa Bianca but did not get a response back.
Two people from the Roosevelt Drive area attended the Nov. 10 planning and zoning commission meeting. They were worried about the potential mental health facility. They would not give their names to a reporter.
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.
“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 via an email to the Valley Indy.
The Valley Indy 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,” she said.
