North County residents experiencing mental health, alcohol or drug-related crises could soon receive care closer to home as officials move forward on plans for a new treatment center in Santa Maria.

The Santa Maria Planning Commission unanimously approved moving forward with Santa Barbara County Alcohol, Drug & Mental Health Services' plans for the new crisis center at 212 W. Carmen Lane Wednesday night and found the project consistent with the city's General Plan. While a medical clinic is an approved use under the property's zoning, a residential use requires additional review and finding by the commission.

“I think this went even beyond unanimous approval,” said Dr. Jim Broderick, director of Alcohol, Drug & Mental Health Services. “All of the commissioners were really seeing this as adding to the quality of the Santa Maria community. I think we're just extremely pleased that not only did they approve it, but strongly endorse the program.”

Since the North County doesn't have such a crisis facility, clients are now forced to travel as far away as Santa Barbara or Ventura to receive emergency treatment. Officials are hoping a $2.5 million project to renovate the facility will move quickly to fill the large gap in services for the quickly growing North County population.

“This is a great need in the Santa Maria Valley and our constituency here who really need mental health (and alcohol/drug) treatment,” said 5th District Supervisor Joe Centeno of Santa Maria.

Initial plans call for a two-story building that would house services for people who need anything from counseling to a place to stay overnight and receive medication. It could open as soon as December.

Under the proposal, the building's lower level would house a 24-hour crisis center where people can have a short session with a professional psychiatrist or nurse.

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For people who need more intensive care and stabilization, there would be room upstairs for 12 clients to stay between five and 10 days, Broderick said.

At Wednesday's meeting many members of the public spoke in favor of the project, and expressed gratitude that they would no longer need to travel long distances to receive services, said Tina Frank, project planner.

“We were all quite pleased about the fact that we could be a part of such a positive process to bring these services here,” said Commissioner Lawnae Hunter. “I think it's a much needed project for this community.”

One concern that was raised during the hearing, however, was that clients would loiter after being released from treatment. However, Broderick said employees would be connecting people with long-term treatment and providing transportation to their home or other facilities to prevent loitering.

Since the county wanted to purchase the building for its own use, it technically did not need approval from the city before going forward with its plans due to governmental immunity, Frank said.

However, Broderick said it was the county's intention to bring the project forward as a courtesy to the city to ensure there was community support for the new center.

“I want the local community to endorse this, so I asked them to vote on it. Otherwise it wouldn't be a very good start to just go forward,” Broderick said.

The next step in the process is for the County Board of Supervisors to approve the funding to purchase the building, which Centeno said should move quickly since the project has strong support.

“On the county's side, there's no doubt that this will move fast. I'm prepared to move forward,” he said.

Broderick said he couldn't release how much the county will pay for the building until supervisors discuss the issue.

Randi Block can be reached at 347-4580 or rblock@santamariatimes.com.

June 23, 2006