Las Vegas LDS temple proposal topic of councilwoman’s closed-door meeting

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Behind closed doors Las Vegas city staff met with Lone Mountain homeowners and representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to discuss a temple proposal which will be decided in one week.

8 News Now requested to attend the Wednesday meeting to learn more about the discussions between both sides of the LDS temple proposal but were denied entry to the meeting which was considered private.

City of Las Vegas Councilwoman Francis Allen-Palenske wrote in a statement to 8 News Now she called the meeting to ensure both sides of the proposal could sit together and exchange ideas.

“This group consisted of residents who reside near the proposed temple site and live in the city of Las Vegas, Ward 4 and Clark County,” she wrote. “Key stakeholders from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were also there to answer questions and listen to suggestions and concerns.”

Allen-Palenske indicated a facilitator led the conversation between both parties with city staff from the public works department, city attorney’s office, and planning department in attendance.

Previously Allen-Palenske had discussed the proposal on city programming and also during an April “virtual forum” which had rules in place to disable resident’s chat functions and only allow city staff and the councilwoman to speak, rules that appeared to be in conflict with the word “forum.”

The Tuesday meeting started around 2:30 p.m. and lasted an hour, and Allen-Palenske noted in that time both parties had a productive discussion.

“The conversation was healthy, and all parties had a chance to speak and have their ideas heard,” Allen-Palenske wrote. “I appreciate the participation of everyone who showed up today and engaged in neighborly conversation.”

However, Nathan Taylor, a consultant and government affairs lobbyist for Lone Mountain residents in opposition to the proposal, believed the meeting had the potential to bring concerns to the bargaining table but fell short of those hopes.

“It was not a negotiation,” Taylor said. “That’s what I was brought on for to negotiate this product and make it work for the area but as far as how the meeting went, it was a meeting, people were heard.”

Taylor said although he is happy a meeting was held the concerns about the proposed LDS temple’s design remain according to residents he represents.

“We’re talking about a 70,000 square foot 216 feet tall building in the middle of a rural area,” he said. “It’s really large, and it’s not compatible, it’s not harmonious, it just doesn’t work with a rural neighborhood.”

The neighbors are not being unreasonable according to Taylor who said his clients who live in Clark County are just as impacted as those who live within the City of Las Vegas—this is highlighted by three sides of the proposed site budding up against county resident’s homes.

“If there’s something that we can do between now and next week, when the council meeting is set to happen, we would be very happy about that,” Taylor said. “We got one week left and we’re going to do the best job that we can to see that the residents can get what they need.”

On the other side of the table inside the closed-door meeting sat Michael Thomson, Director of Construction for the Special Projects Department for the LDS Church, who has been involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of over 60 temples throughout the U.S. and Canada.

“The focus of the meeting was to listen,” Thomson said. “We all came to listen to share our feelings and to share our thoughts, very heartfelt feelings from everybody that was shared, it was a very good meeting.”

8 News Now asked Thomson what part of the hour-long meeting stood out to him.

“Some of the things I think stood out is how a site was approved,” he said. “I think that was a very beneficial type of understanding for some of the residents.”

The design of the proposed temple has faced scrutiny from residents as the lighting and height of the property are set to conflict with guidelines from an agreement meant to protect the character of the rural neighborhood— city staff have disagreed with some residents’ interpretation of the document.

“The significance of the temple is to draw our eyes back to God,” Thomson said. “It represents a symbol for the highest forms of religious rights within our Church, and it draws members from all over the community to be able to look toward God.”

Thomson said the light and height of the proposed temple are meant to represent a beacon of the Church and serve as a reference to Jesus Christ in people’s lives.

“It’s a place for them to go to be closer to their families to be able to perform the highest ordinances,” he said.

Supporters of the proposed LDS temple have said the property will help meet the demand for a second location for weddings, specific ceremonies and other events which currently can only be held at the Las Vegas Nevada Temple location.

The fate of the proposed LDS temple is set to be decided by Las Vegas City Council members on July 17 at Las Vegas City Hall.

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