From staff reports

Representatives of the Allen County Board of Commissioners will request a continuance of the hearing for the contingent use application that was submitted for 3003 Meyer Road, the intended site of the new county jail.

The Fort Wayne Board of Zoning Appeals hearing is currently scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 19 in Room 35, Garden Level, Citizens Square, 200 E. Berry St., Fort Wayne.

County staff and elected officials held a community information meeting on Jan. 10 at the New Haven Community Center. During that meeting, county staff and the architect and engineering team gathered valuable feedback from neighbors and other local stakeholders, according to a notice from the commissioners. There were several requests universally shared by those in attendance. Additionally, a Department of Planning Services staff report released Jan. 13 outlined further site plan considerations.

The Board of Commissioners wants to afford enough time to fully consider the new information presented at the public hearing and to incorporate portions of it into revised site plans, building images and drainage plans, according to the commissioners’ statement. The requested continuance – if granted – would move the BZA hearing to Feb. 16.

According to a statement released after the New Haven public hearing, “While the City of New Haven was not part of the discussions or decision process in the location of the jail nor has the ability to approve or deny the facility; Mayor (Steven) McMichael and the Commissioners have met and have agreed to meet monthly to ensure clear and transparent communication between the city and county as the project moves forward.”

“Last night was a positive step in moving forward,” McMichael said in the announcement. “New Haven, like most communities would not seek out a jail to be built near their city however, I believe working together with the Sheriff, Commissioners and Surveyor, issues can be addressed, and the community impact can be minimized.”

The commissioners, who own county real estate, and then-Sheriff David Gladieux, whose office oversees the operations at the current jail at 417 S. Calhoun St., lost a federal lawsuit related to overcrowding and violence among inmates. As a result, the commissioners have decided to construct a new jail, expected to cost $300-$350 million, to provide space for prisoners and which will incorporate treatment space. Gladieux left office at the start of 2023 due to term limits and was replaced by recently elected Sheriff Troy Hershberger.