Introduction to the Controversy
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has moved one step closer to breaking ground on its Fairview Texas Temple after the Town Council voted to approve a parcel map for the building. This decision comes after nearly two years of the small Collin County town being in a stand-off over the project. A lawsuit is currently pending in a Collin County district court, challenging the validity of the council’s permit approval for the temple. The church believes the temple is necessary to support its growing congregation in North Texas.
Concerns of the Residents
Residents in Fairview, a town of about 11,000 people located more than 30 miles north of Dallas, have expressed concerns that the temple’s 120-foot steeple height is out of character for the small town. They fear it would set a precedent for allowing taller buildings in Fairview, which prides itself on its "Keeping it Country" motto. The town’s current tallest religious building, the church’s existing meetinghouse, has a steeple that is 68 feet tall.
Procedural Steps and Approvals
Tuesday’s vote was a procedural step that clears the way for the church to submit a building permit by approving its final plat, a drawing of how the land will be developed. The council approved the plat 5-0, with two council members absent. In April, the Town Council voted 5-2 to approve the church’s permit application for the temple after hours of public comments both in favor of and in opposition to the building. The council approved a 120-foot-tall spire on a roughly 30,000-square-foot building, which is less than the church’s original 174-foot-tall request but still significantly taller than the 68 feet requested by town leaders.
Appeal and Lawsuit
Several weeks after the council approved the permit, a group of Fairview residents filed an appeal with the town’s Zoning Board of Adjustment, challenging the validity of the vote. The residents argue that, by law, at least six votes were needed to approve the permit application because a group of property owners near the temple site protested to the town in writing. The town responded that not enough property owners protested, but residents disagree, saying the town miscalculated. In June, the residents elevated their appeal to a Collin County district court, filing a lawsuit challenging the validity of the council’s decision.
Reaction from the Mayor
Fairview Mayor John Hubbard expressed his concerns about the project, stating, "Having the legal right doesn’t make it the right thing to do. Instead of being remembered as a place of peace and community, the Fairview temple … is at risk of being remembered as a place where rights were valued more than relationships, and where being a good neighbor was pushed aside."
The Church’s Perspective
A church spokesperson declined to comment on the approval. The church has submitted plans for a 120-feet tall and about 30,000-square-feet large temple, which is a compromise from the original plan.
Opposition from Fairview United
Fairview United, a group in opposition to the temple’s height and design, called the council’s approval a "procedural failure." They argue that the town miscalculated the number of property owners who protested the project.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding the Fairview Texas Temple has been ongoing for nearly two years, with residents expressing concerns about the project’s height and design. Despite the Town Council’s approval of the parcel map, the issue remains unresolved, with a lawsuit pending in a Collin County district court. The outcome of this lawsuit will determine the fate of the temple and the future of the town.
FAQs
Q: What is the main concern of the residents of Fairview regarding the Fairview Texas Temple?
A: The main concern is that the temple’s 120-foot steeple height is out of character for the small town and would set a precedent for allowing taller buildings in Fairview.
Q: What was the outcome of the Town Council’s vote on the parcel map for the temple?
A: The council approved the plat 5-0, with two council members absent.
Q: What is the status of the lawsuit filed by Fairview residents challenging the validity of the council’s decision?
A: The lawsuit is currently pending in a Collin County district court.
Q: What is the church’s perspective on the project?
A: The church believes the temple is necessary to support its growing congregation in North Texas and has submitted plans for a 120-feet tall and about 30,000-square-feet large temple.
Q: What is the name of the group in opposition to the temple’s height and design?
A: The group is called Fairview United.
