Proposed mental health center for kids faces pushback in Forest Lake

A Forest Lake City Council vote Monday night could stop the development of Minnesota's first residential psychiatric treatment facility for children in its tracks.

Sue Abderholden, director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness for Minnesota, said she's seen it happen before.

"Over and over again, what we've seen is providers come forward, they go to the planning commission, the planning commission approves it, it goes to the City Council and all of a sudden it's voted down," said Abderholden. "And we do worry that it is because of fear and discrimination."

The developers, The Hills Youth and Family Services, said the $20 million state-of-the-art facility would create about 150 jobs and offer resources for children ages 7 to 17.

Monday's vote will decide whether to approve zoning of the proposed 40-acre site for the facility. But last Monday, soon after the planning commission recommended the project to the council, Mayor Ben Winnick was clear.

"I personally don't support the change on this, not that I don't support the facility or that you are doing a wonderful job," said Winnick. "I don't believe this is the right location for it."

In 2015, state lawmakers approved 150 beds to be built in Minnesota. The facility proposed by the developers would offer 60 beds. Facilities like this one fall between hospitalization and less intensive residential treatment. NAMI's Abderholden said greater staffing ratios of three medical staff members for each child would help provide more intensive treatment at the new facility.

About 300 Minnesota children with conditions like depression and autism are currently sent to out-of-state facilities for similar care.

The proposed site is an undeveloped part of town near the airport and off the city's main thoroughfare, Highway 61.

"They wanted to have it somewhat in the metro area because we actually have fewer residential treatment beds in the metro area," said Abderholden. "They wanted it to be where there would be a lot of land, and they're going to include equine therapy."

Council members said this isn't a debate about treating children, but about concerns over how using that land for a treatment center fits in with the city's long-term development plans.

Council Member Mara Bain said she is leaning toward allowing the change in zoning that would give permission for the facility to be built, but wants to know more.

"We have a huge need for facilities like this," said Bain. "My challenge on Monday is I don't get to vote specifically on this project and a lot of the information I would like to have, we are not at that spot yet."

At Saturday's Flake Festival along the waterfront in downtown Forest Lake, which included outdoor winter activities and a polar plunge, many residents hadn't heard about the proposal.

"I wasn't even aware of it and I have too many questions to have an opinion right now," said Marie Zimmerman. Gary Rhoden hadn't heard about the facility, either, but said moving ahead with it seems like the right thing to do.

"I am always supportive of juveniles and whatever aids their development," he said.

Bain said she held a meeting with about 10 concerned residents who live near the proposed building site over the weekend.

The council, made up of five members including the mayor, has scheduled a public hearing Monday night.

Representatives from the developer said they will be there, as will statewide advocates for mental health resources.