Commission tables rezoning for two crisis therapeutic homes on Yellowhammer Road after hours of public comment

The Isle of Wight Planning Commission on July 28 tabled REZN2511, a rezoning application from Western Tidewater Community Services Board seeking conditional rural residential zoning for roughly 30 acres on Yellowhammer Road to build two crisis therapeutic homes.

Brandon Rogers, executive director of Western Tidewater CSB, described the CTH model as a six‑bed, time‑limited (up to 30 days) residential placement for individuals with developmental disabilities who need short‑term stabilization. "Our crisis therapeutic home is defined by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services... It's a 6 bed licensed facility," Rogers said. He described staffing plans that include a master's‑level licensed therapist, nursing coverage, qualified mental health professionals, and a flexible staffing model that increases to 1:1 when clinically required.

Neighbors and dozens of residents raised safety and siting concerns at the public hearing: speakers questioned an initial application they said omitted the word "crisis," cited licensing and violation reports from a Western Tidewater‑operated facility in Suffolk, and urged caution because of long EMS and transport times from the rural site. Katie Whisnant told the commission she was told at an earlier neighborhood meeting the project was a "done deal," and argued the DBHDS playbook recommends nonresidential, commercial proximate locations for some crisis resources.

Supporters, including longtime CSB staff and county social services veterans, urged the commission to weigh the shortage of crisis capacity in the region. "The need is great," Pamela Barton, a former interim director of a county department of social services, said, asking commissioners to consider service gaps for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about staffing mixes (RNs vs. LPNs), the CSB's vacancy rates and use of PRN/temp nurses, psychiatrist availability, licensing cadence and incident reporting. After discussing what additional materials would be required to evaluate conflicting data submitted by residents and the applicant, the commission voted to table the application; staff said the item will appear as "old business" on next month's agenda with no new public comment at that meeting and that public comment will be available again when the Board of Supervisors hears the recommendation.