YORBA LINDA : Residents Oppose Home for Retarded

Residents of a Travis Ranch neighborhood are protesting plans to open a residential facility in their community for six adults with severe mental disabilities.

About three dozen residents asked the City Council at Tuesday night’s meeting to explore ways to prevent the home from opening at 20701 Vista del Sol.

“These adults are classified as the most severely disturbed, exhibiting inappropriate behavior and feelings,” said Jameson Garrett, whose home is near the planned facility. “Who in their right mind would let children play near such adults?”

The home would be operated by Bob Valenzuela, who would accept adults considered profoundly mentally retarded and requiring extensive supervision.

Harry Taylor, community services planner for the Development Disabilities Center, a nonprofit agency that oversees the operation of group homes in Orange County, said fears that children and other residents will be harmed by those living in group homes are largely unfounded.

“We have 210 group homes in the county, and I have never heard any complaints once they went in,” Taylor said. “People’s fears are greater than the reality.”

Taylor said the six residents in the home would be supervised by three caretakers during normal waking hours and by one staff member at night.

While the City Council was sympathetic to the residents’ concerns, city officials say there is nothing they can do to prevent the home from opening.

Diane Hawthorne of the state Department of Social Services, which licenses operators of group homes, said state law preempts the city’s jurisdiction.

“Anything for six adults or less in a house in a residential neighborhood is considered to be a residential property just like any other residence,” Hawthorne said. “Cities cannot place any restriction on adult residential facilities that they don’t place on other residential use.”

Garrett and other residents protesting the facility say they are upset that they were not notified by the home’s operator or by the various licensing agencies involved in approving such facilities.

The residents say they have a number of concerns. “Who assumes responsibility for these individuals if they damage property or cause harm (to residents)? What is required of care-givers? How should we respond if we encounter these individuals?” Garrett asked.

For-profit adult residential facilities are regulated by the state, although the homes are private business.

Although the state does set requirements for operators, the staff need not meet any educational requirements.

According to Taylor, state regulations govern the staffing requirements and who may live there.

The operator of the Vista del Sol facility is seeking a level 4-G designation, one of the most stringent.

Taylor said that, typically, residents in a 4-G facility are moderately to profoundly mentally retarded, need intense supervision and “may also have behavior episodes requiring treatment and intervention.”

Such episodes may include the residents injuring themselves or eating inappropriate items, Taylor said.