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Planning commission approves conditional use permit for psychiatric treatment facility serving youth
Summary
The Millcreek City Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve Conditional Use Permit CU 24,007, allowing a secure psychiatric treatment component for patients ages 12–17 with limits of no more than 40 psychiatric patients and 60 patients total.
The Millcreek City Planning Commission on Jan. 22 approved Conditional Use Permit CU 24,007 to allow psychiatric treatment on a property now zoned RM, limiting psychiatric patients to no more than 40 and total facility occupancy to 60 and restricting patients to ages 12 to 17.
Brad Sanderson, planning staff, told commissioners the property had recently been rezoned to RM and that the applicant proposes to add a psychiatric treatment component at an existing facility. "The property now is all within the RM zone which allows for a medical treatment, facility," Sanderson said. He told the commission staff recommended approval subject to conditions intended to limit the use to "especially hospitals specifically for patients needing behavioral treatment" operating as a secure, locked facility and to require on-site medical staff for psychiatric care.
The applicant’s representative said the primary operational change would be bringing in a psychiatrist to do rounds and daily checks on patients. "The only real difference here from how we've been using the building to how we're proposing, is this will give us the ability to pull in staff, a psychiatrist that's there and doing rounds and checking on the students each and every day," the applicant said.
Commissioners discussed how to word the occupancy cap. Commissioner Victoria Reed, vice chair, and others sought clarification whether the limit referred to psychiatric patients only or the facility total. Commissioners were told the building is licensed to 60, with the applicant planning approximately 34 psychiatric beds and several outpatient slots; the cap was therefore codified as 40 psychiatric patients and 60 patients total. "So there's 40 references of psychiatric patients, not your total count," a commissioner said during the exchange.
Commissioner Larson moved to approve the conditional use permit "based on the findings and conclusions of the staff report" with the added provisions that the use be limited to secure psychiatric treatment for behavioral-health patients, require on-site medical staff, limit psychiatric patients to no more than 40 and total occupancy to 60, and limit patients to ages 12–17. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Vance. The commission voted by voice and the motion passed unanimously.
No members of the public spoke in person; staff reported one inquiry email seeking clarification about a small fenced courtyard shown on the site plan and no substantive objections.
The commission’s approval applies to the conditional use as described; Sanderson noted that if a future operator sought to change the number of patients, the age range, or the type of treatment, that operator would need to return to the planning commission for a new or amended conditional use permit.
Votes at a glance: Motion to approve CU 24,007 with conditions (mover: Commissioner Larson; second: Commissioner Vance) — outcome: approved unanimously. Approval of Dec. 18 meeting minutes (motion/second not individually named in transcript) — outcome: approved unanimously.
The commission moved on to other agenda items after the CU permit vote; staff will reflect the approved conditions in the written permit documentation and advise the applicant on building-permit and licensing steps necessary to implement the psychiatric services at the site.
