Plan for group home opposed

Such a facility is sorely needed, Kritz said, as the area has more than 1,800 individuals receiving support services from the state agency.

But residents reacted strongly when they learned of the plans for the home on Lynne Road. The property was purchased in April by Acushnet builder Jeffrey White, who converted the three-bedroom ranch house into a six-bedroom home ready to be leased for the state’s mental health program.

The Department of Mental Health, meanwhile, awarded the contract for operation of the transitional facility to Fel lowship Health Resources Inc., a Rhode Island-based nonprofit that has overseen mental health facilities for more than 30 years.

Certain facilities licensed by the state are exempt from most local zoning ordinances under the so-called Dover Amendment, which in this case left the town with no involvement other than the issuance of the building and occupancy permits.

The streamlined process also kept residents of Beaver Meadows in the dark until recently. Some say they are particularly worried that clients of the facility might have addiction issues in addition to mental health problems.

Kritz confirmed that many may have dual diagnoses. “It is not uncommon for individuals with serious mental illness to also have co-occurring addictions,’’ she said.

Lynne Road homeowner Sean Murphy, who has two young children, said he and his neighbors told representatives from the Department of Mental Health and Fellowship Health Resources the Lynne Road location isn’t appropriate. He said that no one listened.

“They feel this neighborhood, with17 children, is a good place to put addicts with mental health issues,’’ Murphy said. “And they told us there is nothing we can do.’’

Fellowship spokesman Mike Ratte said the residents are needlessly fretting over the home’s clients.