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Council approves Caris Care Southlake site plan for outpatient youth mental‑health clinic
Summary
Council approved a site plan amendment to allow a full‑day outpatient youth mental‑health clinic (Caris Care) in an existing office complex on West Southlake Boulevard, permitting a maximum of 20 patients during the day; approval passed 4‑3 on second reading.
Southlake City Council on Oct. 7 approved a zoning/site‑plan amendment to permit a full‑day outpatient youth mental‑health clinic (Caris Care Southlake) at 600–660 West Southlake Boulevard. The ordinance (ZA25‑0030) passed second reading 4‑3.
Applicant John Raines, Caris Health COO, said the clinic model is a full‑day outpatient program serving up to 20 students with counselors and structured group therapy activities; hours described by the applicant are daytime clinical hours similar to other Caris sites. The facility would occupy an interior suite in an existing office building and the site plan includes a safety and egress plan intended to manage arrival and dismissal of youth participants.
Staff noted the site’s current land use is office/commercial and the SP‑1 (detailed site plan) district allows such a use with council approval. There were no public comments at the required public hearing and the city reported no responses from notified properties.
Council discussion and vote Several council members said they support the mission and services of the clinic but expressed design concerns about co‑locating clinical programs in an office building and emphasized the need for strong operational safeguards, including secure drop‑off/pick‑up procedures and staff‑to‑client ratios. Council approved the site‑plan change on second reading 4‑3 and required that the applicant adhere to the submitted safety and egress plan and any additional conditions that staff identifies in the site‑plan checklist.
Why this matters The approval permits a licensed outpatient youth mental‑health provider to operate a structured day clinic in a commercial office complex inside Southlake. Supporters argued the program expands community access to non‑residential therapeutic services; skeptics urged strict operational controls and attention to how the provider will manage flows of patients and staff within the existing site layout.
Next steps The applicant must secure building permits and meet any final conditions in the staff site‑plan review summary before operations begin.
