ESSEX, Vt. (WCAX) - Officials in Essex Town have denied a zoning change needed for a proposed new women’s prison, dealing a setback to plans to replace the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility, the state’s only women’s prison in South Burlington.

The state wants to build the 115,000-square-foot prison on land they already own off of Route 117, but it is currently not zoned for that type of facility.

“Their request was to allow it in the industrial district in the south-east quadrant of town,” said the town’s Katherine Sonnick. She says the Planning Commission was in agreement, voting 5-0.

Sonnick says the vote came after extensive public comments opposing the prison, as well as unanswered questions from state officials on potential impacts to town infrastructure and public services

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