Madison County seeking special exception for new jail
Apr. 1—ANDERSON — The last legal hurdles to the construction of a new Madison County jail will be considered by the Anderson Board of Zoning Appeals.
The board on Wednesday will mull a request by Madison County Commissioners for a special exception required for the jail. The BZA meets at 4:30 p.m. in the council chambers of the Anderson City Building.
The county is also requesting variances from the required 80 acres for a correctional facility, construction within 300 feet of a residential area and a sign variance.
The staff of the Anderson Municipal Development Department recommends approval of the special exception and the three variances, noting it will provide additional safety and security in north Anderson and the location is ideal for other cities and towns needing the services.
Last month, Anderson City Council approved a change in zoning for the jail construction. Council on Thursday passed the ordinance unanimously with no questions from the council or public comments for the rezoning of the former Meijer property on Broadway.
The county is buying the property from Meijer for $795,000 and plans to build a facility at a cost of $110.5 million to house 550 inmates and include the administrative offices for the sheriff's department.
The jail is proposed for a 26-acre site within the entire 47-acre location to the west of the Wendy's restaurant. The jail facility and administrative offices will be a 169,100-square-foot, two-story structure that will include 250 parking spaces.
According to the petition, the jail itself will be 700 feet from the nearest residential housing structures.
There will be an entrance along Broadway and entrances on Hartman Road and Scott Street.
Sanjay Patel, project manager with RQAW Architecture, previously said the main entrance to the facility would be off Broadway and the administrative offices would face east.
Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.
