Prerelease Center expansion

Helena City Commissioners unanimously passed a conditional use permit for the proposed expansion of Helena’s Prerelease Center, after hearing public comment Monday night.

Updated 10/3/11 8:00pm

In September, the Helena Zoning Commission approved a resolution to request the addition of 12 beds to the facility.

The request says the approval would allow a total of 110 beds, with no construction needed, since there's enough room in the current building.           

The original prerelease center was approved in 1999 with 40 beds.

Helena City Commissioner Dan Ellison says it's been expanded twice since then. 

Story by Kristin Price, Beartooth NBC.
Copyright ©2011 Beartooth Communications Company. All Rights Reserved. 

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Helena city commissioners will hear public comment Monday night on a conditional use permit for the proposed expansion of Helena’s Prerelease Center.

In September, the Helena Zoning Commission unanimously approved a resolution to request the addition of 12 beds to the facility.

The request says the approval would allow a total of 110 beds – with no construction needed – since there's enough room in the current building.  

“It's been expanded twice, through this very same process and there's an opportunity for the public to weigh in writing, verbally, at the zoning commission meetings, so there's many opportunities for the public to be heard,” says Helena city commissioner Dan Ellison.

The original Prerelease Center was approved in 1999 with 40 beds. We'll have more on the outcome of the meeting, tonight at ten.

Story by Kristin Price, Beartooth NBC.
Copyright ©2011 Beartooth Communications Company. All Rights Reserved.