A new behavioral health clinic could soon become the latest addition to the growing medical campus along Missouri Flat Road, bringing expanded mental health services to residents across El Dorado County.
County planners are reviewing Design Review Application DR26-0002, which seeks approval for construction and operation of a 12,904-square-foot El Dorado Community Behavioral Health Clinic on a 12.42-acre parcel adjacent to the existing El Dorado Community Health Center in the Placerville area.
The proposal has been submitted by Jacob Bunting on behalf of El Dorado Community Health Centers, with engineering services provided by Kelly Maves. The project site is identified as Assessor’s Parcel Number 327-213-034 and is located on the west side of Missouri Flat Road, approximately one-tenth of a mile north of the Forni Road intersection.
The property is designated Commercial (C) under the county’s General Plan and is zoned Commercial Community (CC), making healthcare-related development consistent with the site’s intended land use.
The proposed clinic would be built immediately adjacent to the El Dorado Community Health Center that opened in 2022, further expanding what has become one of the county’s primary healthcare corridors. Plans also call for associated site improvements, including new landscaping, exterior lighting and additional parking to accommodate patients, visitors and staff.
Behavioral health services have become an increasingly important component of healthcare delivery as communities throughout California continue addressing rising demand for mental health and substance use treatment. While the application materials primarily focus on the site’s physical design and development, the proposed clinic represents another investment in expanding access to those services within El Dorado County.
According to the project description submitted to El Dorado County, the proposal is:
“A Design Review application to allow the construction and operation of a 12,904 square foot El Dorado Community Behavioral Health Clinic. The proposed project includes associated improvements for landscaping, lighting and parking.”
Because the application is currently undergoing the county’s Design Review process, officials will evaluate the project’s architectural design, site layout, circulation, landscaping, lighting and compatibility with surrounding development before determining whether it meets county development standards.
The location offers convenient access from both Missouri Flat Road and nearby U.S. Highway 50, placing the future clinic near existing medical offices, retail businesses and transportation routes frequently used by residents throughout western El Dorado County.
The proposal continues the gradual development of the medical campus that began with construction of the neighboring Community Health Center in 2022. As healthcare providers increasingly consolidate services into integrated campuses, patients can often receive primary care, specialty care and behavioral health treatment in a single location.
Behavioral health remains a significant public health priority across El Dorado County. Local agencies, healthcare providers and community organizations have worked in recent years to improve access to mental health services, particularly as demand has grown following the COVID-19 pandemic and amid ongoing challenges related to substance use disorders, anxiety, depression and other behavioral health conditions.
If approved, the new facility would add nearly 13,000 square feet of clinical space dedicated to behavioral health services, representing another expansion of healthcare infrastructure serving Placerville and surrounding communities.
The application will continue through El Dorado County’s land use review process before any final approvals are granted.
Project at a Glance
- Project: Design Review DR26-0002
- Facility: El Dorado Community Behavioral Health Clinic
- Building Size: 12,904 square feet
- Location: South side of Missouri Flat Road, approximately 0.1 miles north of Forni Road, Placerville
- Parcel Size: 12.42 acres
- APN: 327-213-034
- General Plan: Commercial (C)
- Zoning: Commercial Community (CC)
- Applicant: Jacob Bunting
- Owner/Operator: El Dorado Community Health Centers
- Engineer: Kelly Maves
- Project Features: New behavioral health clinic with parking, landscaping and lighting improvements adjacent to the existing Community Health Center completed in 2022.
Sources: El Dorado County Development Services Department Design Review Application DR26-0002; El Dorado County Planning Division project materials. https://eldorado.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8069388&GUID=12B59BBB-B599-4177-ADE4-4BBBC28F823F
