After a series of controversial hearings and discussions, a new home for the mentally disabled will most likely be moving into State College sometime this spring.

The home, called a Long Term Structured Residence (LTSR), will house six to seven mentally disabled people, said Timothy Boyde, Director of the Centre County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Office.

"The initial focus (of the LTSR) is to bring people home from the state hospital system, because they don't require the level of care of a state hospital system," Boyde said.

Boyde said residents of the home will receive a host of services, including assistance in managing their medicine and their daily lives. He also said the program would help reintegrate the patients with their communities.

"The primary purpose in a LTSR is to provide treatment in the community, a major piece in the integration of folks back into their communities," Boyde said.

As a result, "the majority of folks who will be participating in this program are Centre County residents," he said.

Boyde added that at least two members of the staff will be present at all times to provide assistance to and supervision of the residents.

"There will always be a minimum of two people on duty at all times," he said, adding that one of these two will have a background in medicine.

The location of this home, 614 Locust Lane, was the source of much controversy last year because it was in a R2 zone, where you can house no more than three unrelated people, said State College Borough Council member Elizabeth Goreham.

As a result of this statute, Community Services Group, the owner of the LTSR program, applied to the State College Borough Zoning Hearing Board for a waver from this rule last May, so the home could house 10 people. In August, the board granted CSG this waver, despite opposition from several neighbors of this property. Soon after, a group of these neighbors, concerned that the house was not large enough for 10 or more people, appealed this decision.

Goreham, one of the appellants, said she opposed the decision because it violated the R2 zoning regulations.

"We want to keep this a residential family-oriented neighborhood," she said.

Goreham also said she feared that the LTSR would increase the traffic in the area.

Just recently, however, a settlement has been reached, Goreham said. "We have talked with them and come to a settlement, and have reduced the number (of residents) to six."

Boyde said although not all the necessary papers have been signed, he believes the situation has been resolved. "I'm hopeful that that will be finished by the end of the week."

Ellen Slingerland, another appellant, said while she is still concerned about the parking and lack of space on the street, she is ready to welcome the new home into the neighborhood.

"We're planning a potluck dinner for all interested involved people as soon as they're moved in," she said. "I'm hoping that they'll move in and be great neighbors."