New Braunfels Edition | January 2026

Government

BY ETHAN THOMAS

Comal County considers jail expansion for anticipated growth

Another jail expansion may be on the horizon in Comal County as commissioners look at possible tower build-outs to address anticipated need. Comal County Commissioners received an update from HDR, Inc., the rm tasked with gathering data on the potential expansion, on an ongoing feasibility study for the jail Nov. 20. The jail, which completed its last expansion in 2020, has 582 beds and is operating at 88% capacity. The feasibility study shows the county growing annually by 23%, with an incarceration rate of 2.3% per 1,000 residents—slightly higher than the state average. Digging deeper The build-out scenarios included repeating the existing single-story housing pods or constructing multi-story towers to maximize space. Only the tower options oer long-term capacity without exhausting the remaining land at the jail site. Commissioners directed the rm to produce cost estimates for options 3A, 3B and 3C, all of which involve multi-story housing construction at the existing jail site o I-35. Option 3A • Two oors built out, third and fourth oors shelled • Adds 274 beds • Total capacity: 857 beds • Meets projections until 2036 • Does not require immediate kitchen/laundry expansion Option 3B • Three oors built out, fourth oor shelled

Anticipated growth for Comal County Jail

Population trends show the county could require 810 beds by 2035 and 1,101 beds by 2045, according to HDR, Inc.’s feasibility study.

HDR, Inc. Inmate population forecast

Texas Commission on Jail Standards

COMAL COUNTY JAIL

659 664

2030

PROPOSED EXPANSION SITE

2035

810

982

2040

956

• Adds 411 beds • Total capacity: 994 beds

2045

1,101

• Meets projections until 2041 • Does not require immediate kitchen/laundry expansion Option 3C • Full four-story tower build-out • Adds 548 beds • Total capacity: 1,131 beds • Meets projections until 2046 • Requires kitchen and laundry expansion, includ- ing relocating warehouse storage The three options would also create a footprint for a second tower, extending potential capacity to the year 2055, the presentation states. Precinct 3 Commissioner Kevin Webb said the county wants to focus on future growth, rather than fullling short-term needs.

1,247

2050

2055

1,394

NOTE: TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS DATA WAS NOT PROVIDED FOR 2035, 2045, 2050 AND 2055.

SOURCE: HDR, INC.COMMUNITY IMPACT

“The tower makes better use of space, and I think future us will thank us for planning ahead,” Webb said. Martin Aguirre, HDR, Inc., project architect, said building vertically would require enhanced re-pro- tected construction, potentially increasing struc- tural costs, but would preserve land and provide long-term exibility. Once HDR delivers updated estimates, the court will determine design direction, nancing and a construction timeline.

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