Date set for Templeton psychiatric hospital appeal

A hearing before the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors to consider an appeal of plans for a psychiatric hospital in Templeton has been set for March 15.

A Templeton-based group called Concerned Citizens Preventing Unintended Consequences filed the appeal Jan. 28 after the Planning Commission unanimously approved the controversial project.

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 listed 18 objections about the commission’s approval of the project. The two main arguments are that the hospital is too big and that Templeton is not the right place for it.

Instead, they want a 15 to 20 bed facility which they say would meet the mental health needs of the county while reducing the impacts of the hospital on the community.

This story was originally published February 5, 2016 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Date set for Templeton psychiatric hospital appeal."