By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Now that he has seen more details of Fayette County's plans to enlarge its jail and courthouse complex in the heart of Fayetteville, Mayor Kenneth Steele said he is encouraged.

“The 100-foot buffer is an excellent idea,” he said this week.

City officials have been concerned that the planned complex might overpower the city's downtown revitalization efforts, aimed at creating a small-town, turn-of-the-century atmosphere.

During a special public hearing on the jail last week, the County Commission presented a drawing that shows landscaping plans for the project, including a 100-foot buffer around the complex and a planted berm to screen the jail from heavily traveled Jimmie Mayfield Boulevard.

“They made a very compelling argument for the need for a jail,” said Steele. “They've done their homework in the past few years in preparation for this.”

And although many city officials might have preferred to see the jail move out of downtown, Steele said most are realistic.

“I think [the county has] invested, over the years, a lot of time plus money in that property. They would need a compelling reason to put it someplace else,” he said.

The county plans to attach two new housing pods to the current jail, increasing its capacity from about 85 to 459, and use the current jail only for maximum security inmates.

Plans also include renovating the current courthouse for use as sheriff's offices, and building a new three-story, 150,000-sq. ft. courthouse. The third floor would be left unfinished for future expansion.

In about ten years, county officials envision adding an administrative building to the complex, moving all county office functions to the one site.

Residents of the surrounding area have mounted a determined campaign to influence county commissioners to move the complex, or at least the jail, out of downtown, including presentation of petitions with hundreds of names.

But commissioners told The Citizen recently that they haven't been swayed by opponents. They plan to vote on the location Jan. 27, and hope to settle on a method of financing the project by March.

Fayetteville officials and volunteers formed a committee back in the fall to represent the city's views on the jail project. Steele said the group's main goal at this point is to be sure the complex fits into the community.

“If they build it there,” he said, “our goal is to make it as unobtrusive as possible, especially the jail. We want them to make the focal point the courthouse, and later the administrative complex.”

Commissioners want to be good neighbors to the city, Chairman Harold Bost said. “We will meet or exceed all of the city's standards for development,” he promised.