Plans for a mental health urgent care center in the heart of downtown Lyndon are on hold

Northeast Kingdom Human Services’ plans for a mental health urgent care center in the heart of downtown Lyndon are on hold. The Development Review Board this week unanimously denied change-of-use and site plan approvals for the proposed facility at 48 Elm St. The DRB said the change of use from “office” to “medical clinic” was rejected because the proposed 6-bed facility offering up to 10-night overnight stays did not meet the “medical clinic” definition. Lyndon Zoning By-Laws define a “medical clinic” as offering outpatient services but the DRB ruled the proposed facility qualified as inpatient care. DRB also denied site plan approval on the grounds the proposed number of parking spaces, size of parking stalls and aisles, and traffic circulation plan were inadequate and fell short of town requirements. NKHS can appeal the decision to the state environmental court within 30 days.