Planning Commission backs proposal to remove private jails and community correctional facilities from allowed uses

The Salt Lake City Planning Commission on July 8 recommended that the City Council adopt a text amendment that would remove community correctional facilities and jails as allowed conditional uses on private property.

Planner Cassie Unger told the commission the amendment would leave the definitions in the land-use code but delete the conditional-use allowance and a related section (21A-36-110), making it clear those uses are not permitted anywhere in the city for privately owned land. Unger said state- or federally owned properties would not be affected because ‘‘these entities are not subject to local zoning.’’

Staff recommended the change as consistent with Plan Salt Lake and Housing SLC policies that emphasize safety, resident rights and conserving city resources. The presentation noted small community correctional facilities (30 beds or less) were currently allowed in certain mixed-use and M‑1 zones and that larger facilities were limited to specific industrial areas; the amendment would remove those allowances from the tables of permitted uses.

Commission discussion touched on recordkeeping and whether future councils could reintroduce the uses by changing the code. Vice Chair (speaking during the debate) said the change would require a council-level zoning code change before such facilities could be reintroduced. One commissioner said the change strengthens protections for ‘‘our immigrant and undocumented neighbors’’ and called for moving beyond incarceration as the primary response to social problems.

By roll call the commission voted to forward a positive recommendation to City Council; staff will transmit the commission’s recommendation and the amendment package to council for consideration.

Next steps: the City Council will consider the proposed text amendment in its legislative process; the commission’s recommendation is advisory.