LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Lone Mountain community residents in the Las Vegas valley are asking the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to mimic a good faith deal struck by a Texas town council and religious leaders, which would reduce the proposed temple’s height and size.
Henry Lessner, the mayor of Fairview, released an update Wednesday to mediation between the town council and representatives for the LDS Church. The three-month-long journey for an agreement sparked by the town’s initial denial of a building permit for the McKinney Texas Temple.
“I am pleased to report that we have reached an initial compromise that can be put forward to the community,” Lessner wrote. “Let me stress that this proposal must still go through our normal zoning process with input from our citizens.”
The proposed temple for the Dallas neighborhood will now be no more than 120 feet tall and on a now reduced 30,000-square-foot-space. The height of the temple’s spire was decreased by 54 feet and the footprint was reduced by 15,000 feet.
“We appreciate the efforts of all those involved in working together in good faith to try to produce a compromise solution that will protect the town’s character and zoning laws,” Lessner wrote. “While at the same time allowing the Church to construct the Temple at its chosen site.”
A representative for the LDS Church responded to a CBS News request for comment regarding the mediation with the Fairview Town Council.
“The Church looks forward to meeting with the town representatives and working with them on ways to meet the community’s concerns while at the same time protecting the Church’s religious liberty rights,” Jenn Stice, a communication specialist for the McKinney Texas Temple, wrote in a statement.
The non-binding agreement would permit the LDS Church to submit a new proposal which would again go before the town’s planning commission and council for consideration. Lessner wrote in an update to residents, officials will hold a workshop in conjunction with their council meeting on Dec. 3.
Spirited debate
The compromise in Texas astonished some residents of the Las Vegas community of Lone Mountain, who said they are hoping for a similar chance at mediation—but noted the stark difference from Fairview.
“It’s wonderful for the citizens of Fairview,” Sue Kristensen, a Lone Mountain resident, said. “Unfortunately for us in Vegas, I don’t think they’re going to be forced to the table.”
Kristensen said she had communicated with residents of other communities who have had concerns with proposed temples from the LDS Church and felt the Las Vegas City Council was not as accessible as in Fairview.
“They don’t even want to meet with us. it’s almost like a joke. They want us to go away,” she said. “But the LDS church has some kind of power over them by threatening litigation over and over, and they know they have the money to do it.”
Kristensen and other Lone Mountain community residents have alleged the unanimous vote for the temple for the LDS Church was erroneous, pointing to an agreement which limits the height and size for buildings in the area. Las Vegas city staff argued the Interlocal Agreement does not pertain to religious structures, because it does not specifically address churches or houses of worship.
“The whole thing is a square peg in a round hole,” Christian Salmon, a Lone Mountain resident, said. “It’s just totally absurd.”
Salmon said the rural preservation neighborhood is at risk of losing many of its qualities that have long since made it quiet.
“Why are we forced to take it, but in Texas they’re being forced through mediation to go another route,” Salmon said. “It’ll be interesting to see how they’re going to answer that.”
The City of Las Vegas provided a statement to 8 News Now regarding the Fairview Town Council mediation and cited the complications with ongoing legal action regarding their unanimous vote for the Lone Mountain Temple.
“[It’s] the city’s practice is to not comment on issues involved in pending or ongoing litigation,” city staff wrote, in a statement.
The lessons from Fairview show a continuing trend of new temples in rural communities across the country, 17 new locations were announced by LDS Church President Russell Nelson during general conference on Oct. 6. The total temples operating, announced or under construction by the LDS Church now stands at 367.
8 News Now reached out but representatives of the LDS Church did not respond for this story. Members of the LDS Church, who live in the Lone Mountain community, have previously said the temple would supply a demand for the community and be a great attractive, addition for the neighborhood. One church member described the temple as “Heaven on Earth” noting the site’s proposed garden.
Lone Mountain Stake President Bud Stoddard said, in a previous interview, he sees the new temple as an opportunity for his seven ward, stake of over 3,000 members. Since 1989 members of the LDS faith have only had the Las Vegas Nevada Temple at the foothills of Frenchman Mountain to attend, worship, and celebrate marriages.
