ABC 15
GILBERT, AZ – What would you do to keep your community safe?
It’s a question Gilbert residents are facing head-on with a mental health facility zoned to be built across the street from their homes.
Saguaro Springs Behavioral Health Hospital is planning to build a 72-in patient facility near Val Vista Drive and Williams Field Road.
This is the second location the facility has planned to build. Earlier this year, they canceled plans to build near Pioneer Elementary School after receiving numerous complaints from parents and faculty who were concerned about children’s safety.
The new location has Gilbert residents upset because it is located nearby a school bus stop and family neighborhoods.
Last night the Mental Health facility held an open house to share their plans with the neighborhood. Approximately 100 people attended with only 3 in support. The residents wore stickers that said “right idea, wrong location” and voiced concerns that the mental hospital was locating in the wrong area of Gilbert. They also asked repeatedly why Springstone would not agree to delay the Design Review Board decision until after the Town completed the text amendment process they are currently engaged in whereby they will review whether or not it is even appropriate to co-locate mental hospitals in close proximity to residential neighborhood. Springstone representatives refused to answer that question.
“Seventy one feet is the proximity between the hospital and someone’s back yard. It’s too close. They won’t go on the record and tell us who’s going to be here. We’re not willing to take that chance. Not with our children,” said Kristina Bradley.
Bradley has been going from door-to-door informing neighbors of the building plans. Under the current zoning classification there was no way for the neighbors to know that an inpatient mental health facility could be constructed on the site. The Council is taking up a text amendment to clarify this but the Saguaro Springs is not willing to wait until Council has acted and plans to seek approvals next week. She’s collected $500 to appeal the building plans to postpone the process and others have filed an appeal that will likely be heard at the Board of Adjustment and then potentially in Superior Court.
Residents met at the Double Tree resort on San Tan Village Parkway in Gilbert Tuesday night to protest the building site. Hospital representatives organized the informational meeting to help answer residents’ concerns.
Saguaro Springs will be meeting with the city next week to go over the development plan for the site. They hope to begin construction by the end of 2013. Residents have raised funds to appeal the construction of the building.
