LDS church applies for smaller temple in Fairview, Texas, after reaching agreement; new rendering released
SALT LAKE CITY () — says it has filed a new application for a , after reaching an agreement with the town. On Tuesday, the church released a new rendering of a smaller temple.
The were released in December 2023, more than a year after the to be built in Prosper, Texas, in October 2022. Those original plans called for a multi-story, 44,000-square-foot building.
A in Fairview said the spire of the original temple would have been nearly 174 feet tall. In November 2024, the church came to an and a smaller footprint: A building of about 30,000 square feet with a 120-foot-tall spire.
With the announcement of the newest rendering and application, church spokesperson Sam Penrod told ABC4.com that the latest dimensions of the temple are those that were agreed upon during November's mediation with the town.
LEARN MORE: Why this (proposed) LDS temple in Texas is at the center of controversy
'After the Town of Fairview rejected the Church's first application, the Church and the Town reached a mediated agreement for a smaller temple,' church spokesperson Meliss McKneely said in a statement. 'The Town Council unanimously endorsed the agreement, but the mayor later called for more concessions.'
Earlier this month, Henry Lessner and the Fairview Town Council, saying the church's '.' The letter also hinted at possible legal action if the town's council withdrew its support for compromised plans.
After receiving the letter, Lessner previously told that the town had met its commitments after mediation efforts in November, while the church had not done so yet.
The church's announcement of the new application came about a week after Lessner initially spoke out against the letter. On Tuesday, McKneely said the mayor had recently expressed his support of the latest agreement and expressed his 'belief that the Town Council will stand by its word.'
'We look forward to continuing our association with the community as good neighbors and friends,' McKneely said.
ABC4.com has reached out to local leaders in Fairview, Texas, for comment on the latest developments but has not yet heard back.
Aubree B. Jennings, Matthew Drachman, and Spencer Mahon contributed to this report.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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