Planning commission OKs temple
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Planning Commission recommended Tuesday, Nov. 10, that the City Council give the green light to a proposed Mormon temple in north Phoenix, the Arizona Republic reported. The Deer Valley Village Planning Committee has previously approved the project.
The commission's unanimous decision places the debate, about whether to approve an extra 10 feet of height to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' proposed temple, in the lap of the Phoenix City Council. The proposed temple, at 40 feet tall with 78 feet of steeple and spire with a light, would be located on a vacant lot west of the existing LDS chapel at 5104 W. Pinnacle Peak Road in Phoenix.
The City Council is scheduled to hear the case Dec. 2.
"I was very pleased with the fact that we got a unanimous vote from the planning commission," said Paul Gilbert, the church's zoning attorney. "The planning commission did a very thorough job, gave everyone an opportunity to speak. I believe their recommendation will carry substantial weight before the city council."
Members of the Saddleback Homeowners Association, who oppose the construction because of the size of the temple and the traffic it would bring onto a two-lane road, said they are disappointed and said they plan to appeal the commission's decision.
New TLC show features LDS families
Two Mormon families in San Antonio and their business, the Texas Armoring Corp., will be featured in the TLC show "Family Armor," which airs Thursday, Nov. 19, after "American Chopper." The show follows returned missionaries Trent Kimball, Texas Armoring Corp.'s CEO and president, and Jason Forston, the company's executive vice president, as they work at bullet-proofing and building up a vehicle's protection. It also shows the family life of Kimball, his wife, Courtney, their six children and niece, and Forston, his wife, Lacy, and their son, including a family home evening and getting ready for church.