Board advances Mead Valley Wellness Village; CEQA and TEFRA steps approved
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Summary
Riverside University Health System presented a 19.4‑acre behavioral health campus in Mead Valley and the board voted 4‑0 to advance CEQA mitigated negative declaration, TEFRA hearing steps and related financing authority; implementation depends on grants and later ordinance approval.
Riverside University Health System (RUHS) outlined the proposed Mead Valley Wellness Village on March 19 and the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to advance environmental and financing steps that move the project toward construction.
RUHS project lead Matt Chang said the Wellness Village would provide integrated physical, behavioral and substance‑use services for children, families and adults on approximately 19.4 acres of county‑owned land in Mead Valley, with green space, a community market and other campus amenities. He described a mitigated negative declaration under CEQA and said tax counsel recommended a TEFRA hearing because a nonprofit partner is involved in the financing.
Chang summarized funding components and said RUHS has received BCHIP grant funds of about $80.4 million and that other sources could include state bond funding if Proposition 1 passes. He cited a Beacon economic impact estimate of roughly $603.1 million in total investment impact and noted the packet’s construction‑period job estimate of about 2,500 direct, indirect and induced jobs.
Multiple residents and community advocates spoke in support during the TEFRA public hearing. Brenda Scott, executive director of NAMI Mount San Jacinto, said the project fills a county gap in urgent pediatric behavioral‑health beds: “We’re excited that this wellness village is going to be the first behavioral health urgent care for children.” Rosa Banuelos and other clients described personal recovery stories and urged the board to approve the project’s next steps.
Following comments, the board took a motion to adopt the resolutions advancing the mitigated negative declaration, mitigation monitoring and the predevelopment agreement amendment with PMB LLC, and to introduce the financing ordinance. The motion carried 4‑0; the ordinance will be presented for approval at the April 9 board meeting.
What’s next: RUHS will prepare the ordinance and financing documents for the April 9 meeting, proceed with mitigation monitoring and continue work to secure additional capital and operational funding.
