The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Aug. 25, committed $2.5 million in opioid settlement funds to help build a 69-bed addiction recovery center at 826 Mahler Road in Burlingame.
The money serves as the county's required 10% local match for Horizon Services' Palm Recovery Center project, which is funded through the state's Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program Round 2. That state grant program, backed by the $6.38 billion Proposition 1 bond voters approved in 2024, awarded $1.18 billion statewide in March 2026.
In a separate action at the same meeting, supervisors authorized Board President Noelia Corzo to execute a ground lease with Horizon Services for the county-owned property, according to the meeting agenda. The two resolutions advance Horizon's plan to develop and operate the facility on county land, subject to state approval of the site relocation.
The commitment remains contingent on the California Department of Health Care Services approving a site relocation for the project.
Months of debate
The path to Tuesday's vote was not smooth. When the Board first considered a framework to hand control of the site to Horizon at a special meeting on July 2, Burlingame Mayor Michael Brownrigg spoke during public comment and the item was pulled from the agenda entirely.
Five days later, on July 7, supervisors approved the framework at another special meeting, with Supervisor Ray Mueller making the motion and Supervisor Laura Gauthier seconding. That vote included a directive to County Counsel to negotiate an indemnification agreement protecting the City of Burlingame from any resulting litigation. Horizon CEO Jaime Campos and Chief Program Officer Derya Öze both addressed the board that day.
The Town of Hillsborough tracked the proposal closely, citing resident concerns about public safety, traffic and the site's proximity to St. Matthews Episcopal Day School and South Elementary.
Supervisor Jackie Speier acknowledged the friction in her July 23 newsletter, writing that the Horizon project drew community resistance and that the county needs to be more proactive in partnering with cities and communicating with residents. She called the services "essential."
What's at the site now
The county purchased the former StarVista behavioral health facility at 826 Mahler Road in May after that provider closed. The Board also proclaimed Monday, Aug. 31, as International Overdose Awareness Day at the same meeting where it approved the recovery center funding.
Individual supervisor vote tallies from the Aug. 25 meeting have not yet been published. No construction timeline or facility opening date has been announced; the project awaits state approval of the site relocation before work can begin.
