Lawmakers discuss development of Utah State Prison site

Lawmakers discuss development of Utah State Prison site

(Kristin Murphy/Deseret News/File)


1 photo
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — Even though the Utah State Prison won't be relocated until after a new facility expected to be completed by mid-2020 is ready, legislation was introduced Tuesday related to developing the current site in Draper.

"My guess is we're going to find things that need to be dealt with long before anyone tears down the first wall of the old prison. That's what this is about," said House Majority Assistant Whip Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, the sponsor of HB318.

After years of controversy surrounding the move, lawmakers agreed last year to replace the aging prison with a new, 4,000-bed facility that will be built west of Salt Lake City International Airport at an estimated cost of $550 million.

Wilson's bill creates a Point of the Mountain Development Authority charged with coming up with a plan by Dec. 1 for a larger area being referred to as "Silicon Slopes," not just the 700 acres where the prison is currently located.

The bill would provide $750,000 to study the transportation and other infrastructure needs, as well as taxing and other forms of financing development along the technology corridor between Lehi in Utah County and Draper in Salt Lake County.

"This would probably be happening even without the prison moving," Wilson said. "This is not really a prison bill as much as it is a 'Silicon Slopes,' how do we manage the growth in that tech sector, bill. The prison property is a piece of that."


This is not really a prison bill as much as it is a 'Silicon Slopes,' how do we manage the growth in that tech sector, bill.

–House Assistant Majority Whip Brad Wilson


Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, who had raised concerns about the county losing revenue to other entities while being expected to provide services to development on the Draper site, said he supports the bill.

"The relocation of the prison will have regional consequences," McAdams said, well beyond the current prison site. "I'm supportive of sitting down with leaders of Utah County to look at this effect."

SB145

But McAdams and the Salt Lake County Council wasted no time opposing another bill related to development of the Draper site that was introduced Tuesday, SB145, that would require property taxes to be turned over to the state.

The council voted unanimously Tuesday to oppose the bill, sponsored by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, with some members questioning how it could come from someone who represents the county.

"Somebody should at least take his temperature," said Salt Lake County Councilman Jim Bradley.

Councilwoman Jenny Wilson pointed out the bill would create "the only little bubble in the entire state" where all taxes would be funneled into the state's general fund.

Bradley wondered if there is a "motive here in what they're doing."

"I'm not sure what the motive is," McAdams said. "Maybe they just naively think this would be a windfall for us and we shouldn't get the windfall? Or if there's a more nefarious motive, I don't know."

Fillmore said his intent is that it would be left up to state lawmakers to decide what funds local governments should receive to offset the impact of developing the former prison location.

"I am not surprised to see the County Council jealously guarding what they believe to be theirs," Fillmore said. "My response back would simply be to say the citizens of the entire state have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into that property."

Wilson said he was not aware of Fillmore's bill.

But Wilson called it "unfair, very unfair, to some of those municipalities that are going to be asked to provide support services for that part of the state to be asked to give up all of their (tax) increment to the state."

Talk of tax collection 'premature'

House Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper, whose district includes the state prison, said it's "premature" to be talking about tax collections before the planning for the area is finished.

The speaker said he backed Wilson's approach because he's "not threatened by a process that includes interested stakeholders" from multiple jurisdictions including Lehi, Draper, Utah County and Salt Lake County.

"Look, I represent Draper," Hughes said. "Should I be saying that everything should stay in Draper? I mean, you could make the argument I could, but I have confidence in the process that is very broad and collaborative."

Contributing: Katie McKellar

Photos

Related stories

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

Utah
Lisa Riley Roche

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast