Another hurdle has been cleared on the way to a new Orange County jail.

The Hillsborough Board of Commissioners voted on Monday night to rezone property that Orange County has targeted for a new county campus. The new property could hold several county facilities, including a new detention center.

The proposal has drawn criticism from neighbors of the approximately 21-acre property within the Hillsborough Highway 70 and Cornelius Street corridor.

Hillsborough’s planning board unanimously voted against recommending the zoning change. But Hillsborough Mayor Tom Stevens says there are other factors for the town’s Board of Commissioners to consider.

“Typically, the planning board will look at things pretty narrowly,” Stevens said, “what’s the applicability of the zoning ordinance or the particular uses for a piece of property.”

Stevens said the commissioners have a different responsibility.

“The town board is going to look at a little bit wider range of issues,” the mayor said. “What’s the community need? What are the politics of the situation? Are there other items that impinge on a particular issue?”

The current jail is located in downtown Hillsborough and is in need of major renovations. The county looked at several other locations for possibly housing a new detention center, but ultimately moved forward with looking at the property in Hillsborough. Stevens said there are logistical concerns at each of the other considered locations.

Stevens said he understood the pushback from the neighbors, but that the town had to consider the overall needs of the community.

“For the folks who live in that neighborhood, it is very, very important,” Stevens said. “It’s also important to the community, because we know we need this jail facility.”

Stevens added that he felt that the process was handled well by the county, the town and the neighbors

“Everyone was incredibly respectful and, I think, is doing their best to make their case based on information.”

Official plans have still not been filed for the potential redevelopment plan for the property.

Photo via Orange County

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