Although there are still unresolved lawsuits over the construction of a Latter-day Saint temple in Cody, the city of Wyoming issued a building permit for the building after the Utah-based church threatened another legal suit.
The city’s Planning and Zoning Board approved a site plan for the temple and later rescinded its approval in July, prompting an attorney for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to file a lawsuit in Wyoming District Court, arguing that the commission violated its decisions. rules.
The council then approved the site plan again, with some restrictions.
In August, a popular group opposed to the temple plan went to court to try to block it. Preserve Our Cody Neighborhoods filed the petition in district court as “the last line of defense against an LDS organization that has threatened and terrorized our community” by going to court.
Meanwhile, Cody Mayor Matt Hall ordered the city’s Department of Community Development to withhold the temple’s construction permit — a request he has now filed, he said, because the church has threatened to file a federal lawsuit.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) This map shows the location of plans to build a new temple in Cody, Wyoming.
Although the city “has dedicated its efforts toward easing tensions and promoting cooperation between these groups to seek a solution,” he said in a statement, “… LDS Church representatives from Salt Lake City expressed that any further delay in issuing the permit will result in construction setbacks and losses.” Large amounts of money, which requires them to take legal action before the federal court to recover damages and legal expenses.
The church did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment. The church’s federal lawsuit would have been separate from ongoing legal proceedings in Wyoming state court.
It is still unclear when or if the temple will be built. The mayor steps back and leaves the matter in the hands of the courts.
“We believe it is prudent to allow the district court to decide the future of this project through appeals,” Hall said in the statement.
He said the city has no intention of getting into the middle of the legal battle between the church and a neighborhood group that opposes the temple plan.
“Cody has always been committed to fiscal responsibility and protecting the interests of our residents,” he said. “Engaging in a protracted legal battle is not consistent with our values, and we have a responsibility to be careful stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) This is the place in Cody, Wyoming, where the LDS Church wants to build a new temple.
Hall acknowledged in his statement that he does not have the authority to stop the issuance of a building permit because, according to city code, the City Council “does not have the authority to overturn decisions issued by the Planning and Zoning Board to approve conditional use.” permit or site plan.”
In early August, the Cody Planning, Zoning and Adjustment Commission OK’d the roughly 10,000-square-foot temple on a 4.69-acre site in a Cody neighborhood, while simultaneously imposing restrictions on how bright outdoor lighting could be in the area. It could be the structure and the parking lot, and what hours the lights can shine.
Another major point of contention is the height of the church tower. Zoning rules for the area where the temple will be built restrict structures to be no more than 30 feet in height. The building itself would be 25 to 26 feet high, but the church tower would rise to 101 feet, according to original plans. At one point, the church proposed shortening that to 85 feet, but the neighborhood group didn’t find that acceptable.
The mayor offered to act as a mediator between the church and the neighborhood group: “Cody remains open to facilitating discussions between both parties to reach a solution that respects the rights of all involved.”
Wyoming is currently home to a functioning Latter-day Saint Temple in Star Valley. Besides the existing temple in Cody, a temple is also planned for Casper.
Latter-day Saints view the temple as the house of the Lord, a place where believers participate in the highest ordinances of their faith, including eternal marriage.