Commission takes first steps in development of Draper prison site

The next step in the redevelopment of the Utah State Prison property in Draper is underway. The Point of the Mountain Commission, created by legislation passed earlier this year, had its first meeting last week and discussed contracting with a third-party national or local consulting firm to help manage the project and process to decide the future of the 700-acre property.

The next step in the redevelopment of the Utah State Prison property in Draper is underway.

The Point of the Mountain Commission, created by legislation passed earlier this year, had its first meeting last week and discussed contracting with a third-party national or local consulting firm to help manage the project and process to decide the future of the 700-acre property.

Some people see the land as a valuable hub for innovative technology companies, augmenting an already tech-heavy area called “Silicon Slopes.”

“This area has the potential to be an international employment and innovation center, attracting the world’s best and brightest and developing a place where our homegrown companies and people can continue to thrive,” said House Majority Assistant Whip Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville and co-chairman of the commission. “Partnering with the right group to help guide this process will be critical in executing on that objective.”

The Legislature voted last summer for a new $550 million prison to be built at a site near Salt Lake City International Airport — a location unanimously recommended by the Prison Relocation Commission. The Draper facility opened in 1951 and is expensive to maintain. It has about 1,000 workers overseeing about 4,000 inmates and has about 1,500 people who do volunteer work there.

HB318 created the Point of the Mountain Commission, consisting of local officials, private sector representatives and state-level officials from both the legislative and executive branches. The legislation calls for the commission to evaluate, study, develop a plan, prepare reports and make recommendations for the planning and development of the Draper site, with a report due to the Legislature and Gov. Gary Herbert by Dec. 1.

The commission last week created a subcommittee to draft a request for proposal (RFP), the official bidding process. The commission will reconvene for selection of a contracted firm in the coming months. Commission documents contain a timeline indicating the consulting firm could be selected in mid-July.

Last week’s meeting also featured an economic briefing from Natalie Gochnour, associate dean of the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business and chief economist for the Salt Lake Chamber; a real estate presentation by Mark Bouchard, senior managing director at CBRE; and a discussion of transportation issues by Andrew Gruber, executive director of the Wasatch Front Regional Council.

“Our goal is to ensure the state takes every advantage of this unique opportunity and that every voice is heard,” said Christopher Conabee, commission co-chair and member of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) board. “We need thought leaders’ best planning for this area to reach its economic potential and for our state to remain globally competitive.”

In addition to Wilson and Conabee, the commission includes Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R, South Jordan; Sen. Jerry Stephenson, R-Layton; Rep. Dean Sanpei, R-Provo; mayors Tom Dolan of Sandy, Ben McAdams of Salt Lake County, Jim Miller of Saratoga Springs, Troy Walker of Draper and Bert Wilson of Lehi; Dave Crandall, a software engineer at a Sandy consulting firm; Jeff Edwards, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah; Larry Ellertson, a member of the Utah County Commission; Theresa Foxley, GOED deputy director; and Jonathan Francom, a vice president at Adobe.

The commission’s agendas, meeting materials and meeting recordings are available at le.utah.gov.