The State of California has approved the site relocation for a 69-bed recovery center and sobering station at 826 Mahler Road in Burlingame.

The approval allows Horizon Treatment Services to move forward with the Palm Recovery Center, which will serve people across San Mateo County dealing with substance use disorders. San Mateo County Supervisor Jackie Speier announced the state's decision in her September 2026 newsletter, calling it a milestone she worked to secure.

The state's sign-off satisfies a key condition the Board of Supervisors set in its Aug. 25 vote. That vote committed $2.5 million in opioid settlement funds as the county's local match for the project, funded through the California Department of Health Care Services' Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP). Supervisors also authorized a ground lease with Horizon for the property. Supervisor Gauthier moved the motion, seconded by Speier. It passed.

The Board had approved a framework for the project on July 7, moved by Supervisor Ray Mueller and seconded by Supervisor Gauthier. That vote included an amendment directing County Counsel to negotiate an indemnification agreement for the City of Burlingame in case of litigation and to continue researching alternative locations if legal or funding issues arise.

The county purchased the Mahler Road site in June. It previously housed a StarVista sobering station that closed in August 2025 after the nonprofit went bankrupt following nearly 60 years of service. StarVista had provided 20 mental health programs to county residents.

"Now, we can finally offer individuals and families from across San Mateo County help from the first difficult hours of treatment through longer-term recovery, all at one place," Speier wrote in the newsletter.

Speier wrote that the Mahler Road location will also house nonprofits and other county services alongside the recovery center. She wrote that she believes the site is superior to an earlier proposed location in San Mateo.

The project has drawn pushback from some nearby residents and business owners. In her July 2026 newsletter, Speier acknowledged community resistance and wrote that it made clear the county needs to be more proactive in partnering with cities and communicating with residents.

Speier wrote that the county will hold community meetings so the public and business owners can weigh in. No dates or locations for those meetings have been announced. Residents can check Supervisor Speier's office page at smcgov.org/district-1 for updates.