A plan to build a new state prison west of Salt Lake City’s airport received final approval Thursday after Gov. Gary Herbert signed legislation approving the move.
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The resolution is now headed to Governor Herbert for his signature.
A legislative committee chose the site near the state’s capital city last week to build a larger, modern facility to replace the aging prison in Draper.
In response, the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office said it was continuing to review its options – including possible litigation.
Herbert said he knows the site isn’t flawless, but that it is the best site for the city and the state.
Brad Wilson, co-chair of the prison commission, speaks to the House of Representatives while they take up a controversial proposal to relocate the state prison near Salt Lake City’s airport during the Legislature’s one-day special session Wednesday, August 19, 2015, in Salt Lake City. Opponents have raised environmental concerns as well as complaints about it being located on the city’s often-neglected west-side.
“I would hope that in the spirit of cooperation we can come together with the leaders of Salt Lake City and say that this is a remote location which probably has no anticipated development for many nears into the future that maybe this can be the catalyst to open up industrial development, putting utilities in there, warehouse development, other opportunities that may come”, said Herbert. He led a protest of the Iraq War during President George W. Bush’s 2007 visit to Salt Lake City. The Prison Relocation Commission also looked at sites in Grantsville, Eagle Mountain and Fairfield before making their selection. Utah lawmakers on Wednesday voted to build a new state prison near Salt Lake City’s airport.
Members of the Prison Relocation Commission estimate that redeveloping the Draper site for business use could generate from $557 million to $2.7 billion in economic activity.
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Consultants estimated that a Salt Lake City prison would cost $423 million to operate over 50 years.
