Mesa residents voice unanimous concern about behavioral health facility near local elementary school
Mesa residents oppose behavioral health facility
Residents in a Mesa neighborhood voiced unanimous concern about a proposed behavioral health facility that is set to pop up in their neighborhood. FOX 10's Lindsey Ragas has more.
MESA, Ariz. - A Mesa neighborhood is raising concerns after learning a home in their community will now be used as a behavioral health facility.
Legacy Recovery Center held a meeting at the property and heard from neighbors who are all in opposition.
Nearly 300 neighbors came to this forum to get answers as to why Legacy Recovery Center chose their high-end neighborhood for an addiction and mental health treatment center.
What they're saying:
Discussions were heated as residents say they received vague answers.
"After our opposition grew, they realized that they hadn't reached out to any neighbors and they hid it from us. And so they decided to hold the meeting," said Mike Stephen who lives in the Hermosa Vista neighborhood.
Hermosa Vista residents were loud and clear as their questions were not answered.
"I'm opposed to the residential treatment facility that they're putting into this new home. I don't think that drug, alcohol and behavioral health institutions should be in any neighborhood, residential neighborhood. I think there's a better place for them," said Susan Jarvie, who lives in the Hermosa Vista subdivision.
Why you should care:
The lack of transparency from Legacy Recovery Center has led to their biggest concern.
"The key issue is that they have short-term stays on a typical basis in their regular practice. They did not apply for a special use permit like they're required to. They acted like they have long-term stays and they don't," said Stephen.
The city of Mesa sent us a statement saying family community residences do not need a conditional use permit in the single residence zoning district.
But following concerns from neighbors, staff is looking to see if more permits are needed.
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Dig deeper:
Fox 10 wasn't allowed at the event, but neighbors shared responses they got during the meeting.
"They were very careful in their wording. Very careful, especially in the short-term use and the long-term use of which they got their original permit and the special use permit. It is based on a shorter stay. They evaded a lot of those questions, saying that the wording supported up to a year," said Christina Frost, another neighbor.
Neighbors point out the property, located on Minton Street, backs up to an Elementary School.
Frost lives right next door.
"I just feel like I'm not safe anymore," she said.
"Their other facility, they tout on their website that they're on a two-acre private estate. That's fantastic. I love that. Go find another two-acre private estate that's not backing a school, that goes right over into the playground with the other children."
The other side:
The owner of the Legacy Recovery Center did not want to go on camera.