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City official: Thompson PUD references a 400‑bed, ~170,000‑sq‑ft jail; plan commission path could be expedited
Summary
City planning staff and council members said the Thompson Planned Unit Development (PUD 1202) allows a public jail in Tract D with plan‑commission site‑plan approval and that the staff report referenced an approximately 170,000‑sq‑ft, 400‑bed design; officials said an expedited city review might be possible in about four months if files are complete.
City and county officials heard June 11 that the Thompson Planned Unit Development (PUD 1202) contains provisions allowing a public jail in Tract D but that any site plan for a facility will require plan commission approval.
Council Member Pedmont Smith relayed guidance from the city director of planning and transportation, David Hiddle, noting that a condition of PUD approval requires plan commission review for any jail site plan and that the associated staff report referenced an approximately 170,000‑square‑foot, 400‑bed facility.
"A jail is allowed as a permitted by‑right use in Tract D in the Thompson PUD via approval of case PUD 1202," Pedmont Smith said, reading the staff summary. "The associated staff report references plans showing an approximately 170,000 square foot, 400 bed jail."
City officials explained that whether a proposal would also require a zoning amendment — and therefore a council vote in addition to plan commission review — depends on whether the proposed project stays within the PUD's conditions (size, location, population density) or seeks changes. One city representative said that if a development file is complete and no zoning change is required, an expedited review could allow action in as little as four months; the more typical expedited timeline is six to nine months when filings or changes are involved.
Officials repeatedly stressed that site choice drives many downstream issues — zoning steps, design needs, utility and geotechnical feasibility, and an assessment of operating needs from sheriff's staff — and urged the newly formed working group to surface zoning implications and any required PUD amendments for candidate properties.
The city council's plan commission liaison offered to check whether parts of the Curry building have historic designation and to advise on the process steps needed to remove or modify such designations if necessary.
The meeting did not adopt a site; instead, council members directed the working group to evaluate two to three sites and return a recommendation to the larger body. If a proposal required a change to the PUD or a zoning amendment, it would additionally need plan commission recommendation and council approval, prolonging the timeline.
