Council approves Pavilion Behavioral Health expansion to add 24 geriatric psychiatric beds

The Haverhill City Council voted 11-0 to approve a special permit allowing Pavilion Behavioral Health to build a two‑story addition on the site at 76 Summer Street that will add a 24‑bed geriatric psychiatric unit.

The permit, presented at a public hearing, expands the hospital’s licensed capacity from 71 beds to 95 and includes conditions from city departments and a council condition that landscaping around the project be completed before occupancy of the new unit. Attorney Robert Harber, representing the applicant, said the petition already includes Department of Mental Health approval and meets the city’s zoning standards.

Why it matters: Councilors and the hospital’s representatives said the addition addresses a local shortage of inpatient geriatric psychiatric beds and could increase local treatment capacity. Jeff Lennar, chief executive officer of Pavilion Behavioral Health, said, “in 2024, we treated over 1,300 patients, just last year,” and told the council the new unit would allow the facility to serve about 450 more patients annually if filled.

Supporters and neighbors: The applicant described changes made after a neighborhood meeting, including relocating an emergency generator and trash compactor, screening rooftop equipment, and adding additional landscaping to reduce noise and visual impact. Architect Todd Warringa of Stengel Hill walked the council through updated landscape and elevation plans, showing screening along property lines and plantings near Summer Street. Kenneth Quimby Jr., who identified himself as a healthcare worker, and Amanda Coburn, a psychiatric social worker at Pavilion, spoke in favor of the expansion.

Council discussion focused on neighborhood concerns and project details. Councilor Ferrera pressed for street‑level and perimeter plantings and asked that landscaping be completed before the new unit receives occupancy; the council adopted that condition. Councilors also asked about employee parking, circulation, resurfacing of the front lot and options for permeable surfaces; the applicant said utilities will be tied into existing water and sewer and some resurfacing will occur as part of construction.

What the permit covers: The approved site plan places the addition over a section of existing upper‑level parking, brings parking and van‑accessible spaces into compliance with ADA standards, and relocates generators and compactors toward the interior of the site with screening. The applicant said the project will create roughly 25–30 new jobs and tie into existing hospital operations and local referral patterns.

Process and next steps: Attorney Harber reminded the council that the special permit is the first step; development review, building permits and plan approvals by city departments remain required before construction and foundation permits are issued. The council’s approval incorporates department conditions filed with the council and the landscaping/occupancy condition requested by Councilor Ferrera.

Council action: Motion to approve the special permit by Councilor McGonigal, seconded by Councilor Rogers; final roll call 11 yeas, 0 nays. The council instructed staff to enforce the conditions and advised the applicant that subsequent city department reviews will be required before construction begins.

Members who spoke on the record included Attorney Robert Harber (applicant counsel), Jeff Lennar (CEO, Pavilion Behavioral Health), Todd Warringa (lead architect, Stengel Hill Architecture), Aaron Keithley (Kronk Engineering), Kenneth Quimby Jr. (resident/healthcare worker), Amanda Coburn (psychiatric social worker, Pavilion) and Councilors Sullivan (president), Jordan (vice president), Ferrera, Mitchison, Lewandowski and McGonigal.