Las Vegas LDS temple meeting moved, residents share testimony
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Neighbors are requesting a sign that faith leaders hear their concerns, and city planners now have more time to choose the right recommendation for the community.
The City of Las Vegas Planning Commission was originally set to hear from applicants from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Apr. 9 regarding possible action for two items.
One item would request amending the city’s General Plan land use map, and the other would request a new zoning designation for the parcel where the LDS temple is planned.
City of Las Vegas Councilwoman Francis Allen-Palenske, who represents Ward 4, where the temple is proposed, announced that the applicant requested on Wednesday to hold their proposal. It is now planned to be discussed on May 14 at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers.
Fifteen residents from the community met with 8newsnow.com feet away from the proposed temple site to express their thoughts on the date change.
“I kind of expected it,” Katrina Corse, a Las Vegas resident, said. “I’ve been out here since 1992. I’ve built my home, and we’ve been fighting to keep our rural way of life.”
Corse lamented the difficulty between the community and the temple planners regarding the parcel and hoped for some kind of dialogue from designers about the property’s height.
“These are things they should be asking the community,” she said. “Prior to shoving this thing on us.”
The two parcels owned by the LDS church total 20 acres, and plans indicate the building will be as high as 216 feet, with no plans for an angel Moroni.
Brigitte Solvie, president and founding member of the Northwest Rural Preservation Association, said she sees the meeting change as a chance for the LDS temple planners to talk with residents.
“It gives an opportunity to open negotiations,” she said. “Whether or not that will happen is in their court.”
Bud Stoddard, stake president of the Las Vegas Lone Mountain Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, told 8 News Now he has heard from the community but the ability to change the height of the temple is not up to him.
“Those are great questions, and they’re above my pay grade,” he said. “I just don’t have a say about the overall size of the temple.”
Residents and Northwest RPA members said if it’s not up to the local faith leader, they want to speak with whoever is in charge.
THE AGREEMENT
The new Planning Commission Staff Report found the requested zoning change for the LDS temple was compatible with the Interlocal Agreement, a document that could possibly limit the project, but residents objected to the finding.
“We had the city and the county show up and agreed this was going to be [desert rural density residential] zoning,” Lee Dusbabek, a Las Vegas resident, said.
Dusbabek said he grew to be an expert on the community and the early stages of the Interlocal Agreement during his communications with former Clark County Commissioner Paul Christensen.
“I would have to, on a bi-weekly basis, fax him over the city agenda so he would know the parcels that were being zoned out,” Dusbabek said. “At that time, we saw this coming.”
In 2002, the city, county, and community drew up the Interlocal Agreement, which presented restrictions that would halt the LDS temple due to its height and footprint, but the staff report disputes the conflict.
“The Interlocal Agreement is explicit in its position on amending a jurisdiction’s comprehensive plan or rezoning of properties to commercial or industrial uses,” staff wrote in the report. “However, it is silent regarding amending the General Plan or rezoning to allow civic uses such as government facilities, schools and religious facilities.”
Residents expressed concern a temple would open the door to further construction and rezoning on a case-by-case basis, but that threshold has already been crossed according to the staff report.
“The Las Vegas Valley Water District facility at the northwest corner of Alexander Road and Tee Pee Lane provides an example of this,” staff wrote in the report. “Not all such uses are alike, and thus future projects would need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for compatibility with the adjacent land uses and zoning districts.”
Janel McDonald, a Las Vegas resident, said she has become disappointed that the planning commission item has already been recommended for approval from the staff report before the community’s argument regarding building codes has been raised.
“It’s hard to believe the homeowners’ voices genuinely matter,” she said. “When we express legitimate concerns regarding the temple’s footprint, the increased traffic, the adverse lighting effects, and the necessity of following the current zoning, building codes, and the [sic] Interlocal Agreement that has been in place for 20 years.”
Residents disputed the staff report’s reasoning of exemptions surrounding “civic uses,” countering that any departure from the height and footprint guidelines is in direct conflict with the “intent of the agreement.”
8 News Now contacted an LDS spokesperson for a response regarding the meeting change and an opportunity to respond to the community’s concerns.
“We are aware of the request for an abeyance of the land use application for the proposed Lone Mountain Temple to May 14th. We hope that over the coming weeks all individuals interested in this matter will follow Councilwoman Francis Allen-Palenske’s invitation to engage in constructive dialogue. We are aware of both strong concerns and strong support for the temple. As the land use process moved forward there will be ongoing evaluations of ways to try and address concerns.” – President Bud Stoddard, Las Vegas LDS Lone Mountain Stake
“KEEP OUR WORDS KIND”
As concerns have grown online about the proposed LDS temple multiple residents have cited the possible need for a reminder to “love thy neighbor”, including a note from Councilwoman Allen-Palenske.
“I live near the site for the proposed LDS temple and the weight of this decision is heavy with the concerns of our community,” she wrote in an online post. “It’s my hope that each of you can remain civil, debate facts and keep our words kind.”
Some residents have notified 8 News Now of multiple incidents of name-calling and antagonistic language online regarding the proposed temple, not all of which could be verified.
Glynis Harris, a Las Vegas resident, noted the lack of recognition from church leaders is what feels the most unkind.
“I respect their wanting to build a temple that means so much to them,” she said. “But how about respect in return to [sic] our concerns and what means so much to our neighborhood.”
Stake President Stoddard told 8 News Now he recognized the concerns of the community but underlined not all residents oppose the project as his 3,000 local members do want the temple.
At the end of the Thursday interview with Lone Mountain residents, Christian Salmon invited residents to go with him to pray at the parcel, underlining a common thread found on both sides of this disagreement—faith in what they believe is best for the community.
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