New Jail for Napa County? The Process Begins

Updated Jan. 29:

It looked at first like encouraging news for those in favor of moving the Napa County jail, but jail opponents may not be pleased with the county's latest plans for its correctional facility.

The county is beginning the process of finding a location for a new jail, according to an announcement released Monday.

However, cautions county spokeswoman Elizabeth Emmett in a comment posted below,

If a new jail is sited out of downtown Napa, the current thinking is that the current jail downtown would not be demolished. One section would be used as temporary (day use) space for inmates who are being transported to court appearances. Another section would be used for County offices and meeting rooms. 

According to the county announcement released Monday:

Napa County is beginning the process of evaluating the environmental impacts of a possible new jail facility.

On Tuesday, Jan. 29, the Planning, Building and Environmental Services (PBES) Department will release a Notice of Preparation for an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and an Initial Study Environmental Checklist, which outlines what impacts will be evaluated in the report.

According to PBES Director Hillary Gitelman, the EIR will evaluate the impacts of a new jail at a site south of Napa State Hospital along Soscol Avenue, adjacent to the Syar Napa Quarry, as well as a number of alternative locations. 

The EIR will study the possible acquisition of 15 to 20 acres on one or two privately owned parcels at the proposed location, both of which are designated as “study area” in the County’s General Plan.

The Jan. 29 NOP release initiates a 30-day comment period, where agencies and the public are requested to provide input on the topics and alternatives that will be addressed in the Draft EIR. 

Additionally, as part of the EIR process, Napa County will hold a public scoping session on Wednesday, Feb.  20, 2013, at 6 p.m. at the Napa County Library Community Room, 580 Coombs Street in Napa.

The NOP and Initial Study are available at www.countyofnapa.org/pbes/jailEIR or in hard copy at the County Administration Building, 1195 Third Street, Suite 103 (Temporary Permit Center).

Those with comments or questions about the NOP and Initial Study or public comment period can contact Planner Kelli Cahill at (707) 265-2325 or at kelli.cahill@countyofnapa.org. Those seeking information about the project location or Corrections can contact Analyst Liz Habkirk at (707) 253-4826 or at liz.habkirk@countyofnapa.org.

Source: Napa County

Do you think the south Napa location is a good one for the jail? Tell us in the comments.

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