FAIRVIEW, Texas — Fairview may be nearing a resolution to its ongoing dispute with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over the construction of a new temple.
Last week, both parties went into mediation, which resulted in significant compromises from both sides. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had originally proposed a much larger temple, but after mediation, a new design has been conditionally agreed upon.
The updated plan calls for a one-story building standing at 35 feet, a dramatic reduction from the original proposal of a 65-foot structure with a 174-foot spire. Instead of the spire, the new design features a 120-foot tower that will sit near the middle of the property. The newly proposed temple will cover approximately 30,000 square feet, smaller than the initial design of 43,000 square feet.
"We had a successful mediation with The Church. The outcome was not what either side initially started with but they made a big compromise and the town made a big compromise to accept the height of the tower," Fairview Mayor Henry Lessner said. "We're giving up a lot by going up to 120 feet but they gave up a lot from what they wanted. It seems like a decent compromise to us to avoid a lawsuit."
Although progress has been made, this agreement is not final. The church will need to submit a new application for permits to the Planning and Zoning Board. In the next two weeks, a work session will be held for community members to provide feedback on the revised plan. This process will allow residents to voice their opinions before any final decisions are made.
"We don't think that anyone should have more standing than anyone else. As a homeowner our property rights need to be protected," said Fairview resident Alycia Kuehne, who is a member of Fairview United, a group opposing the proposed build.
Kuehne said she thinks this mediation agreement sets a bad precedent. She worries the city is acting out of fear, a lawsuit, and said she is only speaking for herself in this moment.
"It's never been about them not having the temple," Kuehne said. "We really just want them to follow our laws our town ordinances just like we have to follow them."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the following statement following the tentative agreement:
"Temples are sacred and holy places for Latter-day Saints and are considered to be a house of the Lord. We are grateful that town officials from Fairview were willing to discuss the concerns of the community with Church representatives and we were able to reach an agreement to move forward. A new proposal is now in place that represents a mutually agreed compromise between the Church and the town and has the support of the mayor and the council. This proposal includes a smaller single-story temple of approximately 30,000 square feet and a steeple height of 120 feet. This plan will next be presented in public hearings for consideration by the Fairview Town Council. The Church looks forward to participating in this public process and presenting this new plan for a temple on the Church’s property in Fairview."
Lessner tells WFAA that a meeting with the public has been tentatively scheduled for the beginning of December.