A new prison is coming to Lancaster County.

A public forum was held Wednesday evening and opened the floor up to comments and concerns from residents pertaining to the new prison.

The lot of land for the new prison has already been purchased and is south of Lancaster City in Lancaster Township.

The county’s current prison was built in the 1850s. Both Lancaster County Commissioners and Lancaster County residents agree an updated prison is needed. However, some residents have concerns about the plans for the new prison.

Lancaster Township resident, David Walker attended Wednesday's public forum and said he can see the lot for the new prison from his home.

While he said he is not opposed to the building of a new prison, he is concerned about the lights coming from it.

“I do have a lot of concern about bright lights, led lights, security lights that might be facing any number of directions,” Walker said.

Other Lancaster County residents also voiced their concerns about light pollution impacting local residents and wildlife.

Lancaster County Commission John Trescot told CBS 21 they’re taking those concerns from residents about lighting seriously.

“We very much take that in account . We don’t want it to be this blinding nova of light everywhere,” Trescot said.

Some residents said they hope the county will involve more members of the community in the decision making process of the prison.

Some are concerns about the proposed size of the new prison.

Michelle Batt, Lancaster County resident and President of Lancaster Bail Fund, voiced her concerns Wednesday about the number of beds within the prison. She said the new jail doesn’t need to be as big as current plans show.

However, Trescot said design plans for the new prison haven’t been finalized just yet. He said the size of the new prison is still subject to change.

“Anything before construction, we have the ability to change,” Trescot said.

Other residents, like Mimi Shapiro, were concerned about the addition of mental health resources for the incarcerated. However, Trescot ensured the new prison will have those resources.

“The new jail will have a treatment center and a mental health center,” Trescot said.

Trescot said all together, the new prison will cost “hundreds of millions of dollars.”

He said building a new prison in Lancaster County is a necessary expense, as the county’s current prison is about 170 years old.

“Lancaster County has a really good bond rating. It has a really good ability to borrow money. We have a fairly significant rainy day fund. We can do it,” Trescot said.

He said the plan is for construction to begin in late 2025.

The new prison is set to be operational by the end of 2026.