Templeton residents appeal plans for a psychiatric hospital

A Templeton community group has appealed the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission’s unanimous decision approving plans for a psychiatric hospital in Templeton.

A group called Concerned Citizens Preventing Unintended Consequences filed the appeal Thursday, sending the project to the county Board of Supervisors. No date for supervisors to hear the appeal has been set.

In its lengthy appeal, the group lists 18 objections about the commission’s approval of the project. The appeal was expected, and the objections raised are the same ones the group used to argue against the hospital before the Planning Commission in two lengthy and emotionally charged hearings — one in December and the second on Jan. 14.

The two main arguments are that the hospital is too big and that Templeton is not the right place for it.

Opponents also argue that it would attract psychiatric patients from across the state, creating a substantial number of negative impacts for the county.

Carmel residents Harvey and Melanie Billig have applied to build a 91-bed psychiatric hospital on Las Tablas Road on a vacant 5-acre lot across the street from Twin Cities Community Hospital. A separate 60-bed live-in memory care facility would also be on the site.

The appellants argue that a smaller hospital would be a better fit and still meet the mental health needs of the county. They also ask the county to identify alternative sites for the hospital that would have adequate support services and infrastructure.

“We have determined that a 15-20 bed acute care inpatient mental care facility will meet the needs of SLO County residents for the foreseeable future,” the group wrote in its appeal. “A 20-bed inpatient facility will provide services to more than 1,000 individuals a year.”

In approving the hospital, the Planning Commission said the facility would fill an acute need for additional mental health treatment centers in the county.

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 7:47 PM with the headline "Templeton residents appeal plans for a psychiatric hospital."