Phoenix Temple passes another hurdle

[john doe]

I would ask for evidence on the breast cancer claim. How exactly does a temple differ from any other building in contributing to breast cancer? How about if they limited the damage to breast cancer only in men? Would she be okay with it then?

[john doe]

I wonder if the opposition would be so high if a tavern or gentlemen's club were proposed on the lot instead?

[RanMan]

Originally Posted by Saguaro

The "what the heck?" moment for me at the meeting was when the lady representing Thunderbird Park (a large park just down the street from the temple site with lots of open space and hiking trails) said that the temple would be an eye sore to those at the park, that the environmental impact from the temple would cause the extinction of four animal species, and would cause breast cancer in the women who live in the neighborhood. I think she did more harm to the opposition's credibility than good.

I missed the last part of what she had to say because I was trying so hard not to laugh at it. I expected a protest that the lights would draw the unwanted attention of ETs as part of the list, but it didn't happen. Then again, she might be afraid it would scare the ETs away.

[RanMan]

Originally Posted by john doe

I wonder if the opposition would be so high if a tavern or gentlemen's club were proposed on the lot instead?

There is already a water park in the area that causes more to the problems that they are protesting than the temple will. They claim they would protest even if it were a school or other similar structure, but I have to wonder about that. They made a lot of untruthful claims during the meeting that were rebutted by the LDS spokesman and even corrected by the council woman in charge of the zoning effort.

[Elphaba]

Battle over Phoenix Mormon temple likely to continue

Opponents said city leaders ignored their concerns about the size of the temple and the amount of traffic it will bring to the neighborhood. After the council's vote, they organized a new political group called the Phoenix Property Rights Coalition to collect the necessary signatures to put the issue on the ballot.
. . .
Paul Gilbert, the church's zoning attorney, said he can meet with the coalition to discuss the traffic issues. He believes the group is upset about the congestion that traffic might bring to the area because there is a two-lane road that fronts the temple site.

Gilbert said he gave an updated traffic report, which counts out-of-state temple visitors, to the city. Transportation officials, who reviewed the church's traffic report, did not raise any concerns with cars and visitors congesting the area, he said.

"They have a right to seek a referendum," Gilbert said. "I think we can address those (traffic) concerns. "I don't like to negotiate in the press. I think there is some potential added traffic mitigation factors that I would like to discuss with them."

Gilbert also said he does not expect a large number of visitors because the Mesa Temple is far fancier and has a visitor center, he said.

Apparently the height of the temple is an issue, as it would be surrounded by mostly single-story dwellings.




I searched and searched for a reference as to how the temple would cause breast cancer, but came up with nothing. I can only imagine the eye-rolling that caused.

Elphaba

[Saguaro]

Originally Posted by Elphaba

I searched and searched for a reference as to how the temple would cause breast cancer, but came up with nothing. I can only imagine the eye-rolling that caused.

I think it had something to do with the temple lights causing the cancer, which makes no sense because the church has agreed to turn the lights off at 10:00, so in the winter they would only be on for four or five hours and only one or two in the summer.

[Dravin]

Okay, fess up, who leaked information on the proposed uranium Moroni?

[RanMan]

Originally Posted by Elphaba

Battle over Phoenix Mormon temple likely to continue



Apparently the height of the temple is an issue, as it would be surrounded by mostly single-story dwellings.




I searched and searched for a reference as to how the temple would cause breast cancer, but came up with nothing. I can only imagine the eye-rolling that caused.

Elphaba

The key to this is the portion of the temple between the 30 and the 40 foot mark. That is what is being considered for purposes of this rezoning - although the opponents claim the area between the 30 and the 48 foot mark is what should be considered. Everything above the 48 foot mark is considered a spire and is allowed by current city ordinances. In fact, if they declined the rezoning the Church could tack on an extra 10 or 18 feet to the height of the spire and it would be within the present zoning ordinances.

The opponents want everyone to focus on the height of the spire. What this illustration also does not do is demonstrate how the effect the height of the temple has on blocking the view when it is set back from the property edge. As in - you stand 1 foot away from a building it blocks your entire view. Stand 100 feet back and how much of the view is blocked.

The City Council states that with the extra 10 feet height, the temple has a smaller footprint than if they redesign it without the added height.

The Church (any chruch) has the right to build the temple there. They are just limited in the height of the building. If they stay at 30 feet, there is nothing in the zoning to prevent them from building the temple. In a way, the traffic issue and the lighting issue is really not relative to the zoning issue.

[Islander]

Originally Posted by john doe

I wonder if the opposition would be so high if a tavern or gentlemen's club were proposed on the lot instead?

Of course not! I remember years ago when the San Diego Temple was announced that it took years for the church to defend the host of lawsuits filed to block the construction. There is no new or novel arguments against Temple building. For almost 100 years it has been the same unfounded, non-descript, vague and blurry arguments. It is opposition for opposition sake.

[Saguaro]

The efforts of the opposition to force a referendum are in full swing.
Foes seek referendum on approval of temple

Here's the opposition's website.
Little Deer Valley Homeowners