Northbrook gave the initial green light recently to a residential treatment facility that would serve up to 15 patients between the ages of 13 and 18.
The Village Board agreed by unanimous consent at its Jan. 14 meeting to send SunCloud Health to the Plan Commission for further review of the company’s plan to open its second residential treatment center in a house at 2965 Walters Ave.
Trustees offered widespread support for the proposal, under the conditions that the commission settle any potential parking issues and that SunCloud reach out to property owners in the neighborhood to explain the proposed use.
“Clearly we’re seeing a need for mental health treatment in our community and other communities,” Trustee Johannah Hebl said. “It’s exciting to see an opportunity for people to live in a residential facility to possibly then reintegrate to their own homes or whatever the case may be, if that’s appropriate.”
Hebl, chairwoman of the board’s Planning and Economic Development Committee, said that if staff use the four-car garage on the property, parking should not be a problem. The proposed plan should help maintain the “feel” of a residential community, she said.
“I anticipate they’re not going to be loud at night or things like that,” Hebl said of would-be patients. “I encourage staff to park in the garage overnight. I would rather live next to somebody getting treatment than those who are not.”
Trustee Robert Israel said none of the patients are expected to have vehicles, and family visits will be scheduled carefully so that parking is not overloaded at the facility.
“I suggest they coordinate and discuss these things – parking and the nature of a transitional facility – with neighbors,” Israel said. “They should thoroughly tell them what the use is for. We have had issues in other instances where neighbors think it’s going to affect or take over the area, when in reality it turns out to be a benefit.”
The proposed property spans 28,750 square feet, including a 9,085-square-foot house with a circular driveway, six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a fully finished basement, said Amy McEwan, Northbrook’s interim director of development and planning services.
“Outdoor activity would be limited to the backyard area, which is screened through trees and a small fence,” McEwan said. “Outdoor activity would include light physical activity such as tossing a ball or frisbee.”
The “transitional service facility” would treat patients suffering from eating disorders, mood disorders, substance use disorder and related trauma, she said. Patients will stay at the facility for at least 60 days, McEwan said.
“The services at the facility would include individual and group therapy sessions, school work support, teaching kitchen, doctor visits, off-site therapy sessions, yoga, meditation, outdoor walks, visits to nearby parks and entertainment, etc.,” she said. “Any off-site excursion will be accompanied by staff.”
The facility will be staffed 24 hours a day with multi-disciplinary workers, including a psychiatrist, nurse, dietician, counselor, social worker, educator, therapist and other support employees, McEwan said.
During peak hours, 15 patients and seven to eight staff might be present, she said. Three staff members would be present overnight, McEwan said.
SunCloud currently offers outpatient treatment in an office at 40 Skokie Blvd. and residential treatment for up to 42 patients with no age restrictions at 1535 Lake Cook Road, both in Northbrook, she said.
David Newton, co-founder and director of operations at SunCloud, said residents are not permitted in the facility’s yard or the neighborhood unless they are supervised. Newton said all patients have a curfew.
“They’re not running around the neighborhood,” he said. “It’s very contained. It’s not like you let them out and they come back at 10 o’clock.”
Newton declined to say how much SunCloud, a for-profit company, charges for a 30-day stay, but said patients are typically admitted only if their stay is covered by insurance.
“You only admit people if it is medically necessary,” he said. “I can’t tell what our contract rates are with payers because they don’t want us to. It’s expensive, but it’s not like $5,000 a day. We’re in network. There are cash-pay businesses and there are in-network providers. We are one of the latter.”
