McKinney Texas Temple Wiki

Quick Facts

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Description

The city of McKinney is located within the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area of North Texas. Texas is home to more than 370,000 Latter-day Saints in 737 congregations.^[1]”The Church of Jesus Christ Will Build 18 New Houses of the Lord,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 2 Oct. 2022.

History

Missionary work in Texas began in 1843 during the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Announced

Location Announced

On December 4, 2023, the location of the McKinney Texas Temple was announced as an 8.16-acre site located along Stacy Road just east of an existing meetinghouse at 651 East Stacy Road, in Fairview, Texas. Plans call for a multi-story temple of approximately 44,000 square feet.^[3]”McKinney Texas Temple Site Announced,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 4 Dec. 2023, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/mckinney-texas-temple-site-announced.

Name Changed

As part of the Location announcement, it was announced that the name would be changed from the Prosper Texas Temple, to the McKinney Texas Temple.^[4]”McKinney Texas Temple Site Announced,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 4 Dec. 2023, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/mckinney-texas-temple-site-announced. The city center of the two cities is about 12 miles apart by car.

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Controversy

2024 April 14

A petition on Change.org, started by a local resident on 14 April, demanded that the city keep and enforce the R-1 zoning of the property, limiting the height of any structure to a maximum of 35 feet. The overall complaint was that a building of that size was not suitable for a residential location.^[6]K, Alycia. “Demand Fairview to Uphold RE-1 Zoning Regulations.” Change.org, 2 July 2024, www.change.org/p/demand-fairview-to-uphold-re-1-zoning-regulations.

2024 May 2

The Church hosted an open house meeting for the local residents explaining the project, and why the Church wanted the building and spire to be as large as proposed. During the meeting the Church also addressed concerns over traffic and lighting. According to local news coverage, the information from the meeting was not well received. One resident said of the building “It’s obnoxious. It’s inconsiderate. It’s inappropriate,” complaining that it did not fit the environment it is located in. Another resident said that they want the Church to get their building, but not at that size.^[7]Parker, Jobin. “Church to propose 16-story spire to town of Fairview committee.” wfaa.com, May 2024, www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/church-to-propose-16-story-spire-town-of-fairview-committee/287-9ca46855-3332-4aa1-9289-6bd69e2d2a9e. Accessed 10 Sept. 2024.

2024 May 10

When the proposal came before the Planning and Zoning Committee in a packed meeting, Church representatives explained again that every aspect of the design serves a purpose, and was necessary for what the Church needs. local residents disagreed, and in the end, so did the Planning Committee. They recommended that the City council Members reject the proposal when it was brought to them. The Mayor, at that time, indicated that was already what he planned to do. “I can only speak for myself. I will never approve that,” he said. “It is just grossly out of proportion to everything around there.”

The City indicated that they had 350 messages from residents, 87% against, and that they had recieved more than twice as many from non-residents, 89% for.^[8]Lucia, Andrea. “Fairview Faces Legal Threat as P&Z Votes Down Proposed LDS Temple Design: ‘They’re Being a Bully.’” CBS News, 11 May 2024, www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/fairview-faces-legal-threat-as-p-z-votes-down-proposed-mormon-temple-design-theyre-being-a-bully.

2024 June 4

The City Council first met to discuss the issue on 4 June, letting individuals from both sides have their say. After nearly three hours of discussion, the Council decided to table the issue until August. The Mayor concluded the meeting by saying they would allow the Church 2 months to return with a more reasonable sized proposal.^[9]Persing, Sydney. “No vote: Fairview city council punts decision on temple with controversial spire.” wfaa.com, 4 June 2024, www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fairview-city-council-punts-decision-temple-with-controversial-spire/287-c45294ed-adf5-4daf-a915-56d599227ef0. Accessed 10 Sept. 2024.

2024 August 7

In a unanimous vote cast 8 August, the Fairview Town Council denied the Church’s application for a conditional use permit to build the McKinney Texas Temple at the proposed height and dimensions. The decision came at the conclusion of a packed four-hour meeting where town officials heard public comment that focused largely around the temple’s size. Church representatives may reapply with a new proposal, but a Church spokesperson said, “At this point, we are keeping our options open.”^[10]Panicker, Jobin. “Hundreds pack Texas town council meeting opposing LDS church temple proposal with 173-foot spire.” wfaa.com, 7 Aug. 2024, www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fairview-texas-lds-church-temple-proposal. Accessed 9 Sept. 2024.

2024 November 18

On November 18, the town of Fairview Texas and the Church came together in a non binding mediation meeting to hash out a compromise. The starting point for Fairview was that the zoning allowed 35 feet, but they would allow an exception up to 68 feet, as they had for the chapel next door. The Church’s starting point was to put all 68 of those feet into the main portion of the 44,000 square foot temple, and then do a spire reaching 173 feet. Typically, in the United states, there is no restriction on the height of spires on a religious structure. ^[11]Weister, Alex. “Town of Fairview Calls Mediation Over Controversial LDS Temple Plans.” https://www.kltv.com, 8 Nov. 2024, www.kltv.com/2024/11/07/town-fairview-calls-mediation-over-controversial-lds-temple-plans. The compromised reached betweeen the city allowed for a single floor temple of 33,000 square feet, with spire reaching 120 feet. The Church will redesign to those specifications, then resubmit to the city.^[12]Kersh, Lilly. “Fairview, Church of Latter-day Saints Head to Mediation Over Temple.” Dallas News, 10 Nov. 2024, www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/2024/11/08/fairview-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-head-to-mediation-in-temple-dispute.

2024 December 2

On December 3, the mediated proposal was discussed in a Town Council meeting. The new smaller design was widely opposed by residents and neighbors, with some commentors accusing the Council of giving in, and others inviting the Church to go ahead and sue.^[13]Kersh, Lilly. “Fairview Residents Decry Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple.” Dallas News, 7 Dec. 2024, www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/2024/12/04/fairview-residents-speak-out-against-temple-compromise-with-church-of-latter-day-saints. Most of the arguments appear to have focused on the spire, which is taller than they would have liked to see the entire spire at or under the 65 feet of the LDS chapel next door. The Church, on the other hand, argues Federal law doess not permit regulating the height of the spire at all, and contends that the mediated height is a valid and adequate concession.

Mayor Henry Lessner called the settlement an “initial compromise” in a letter announcing it to residents, then said at the December 3 town meeting that negotiations were “only in the first inning.” Town officials also characterized the church as a bully during the meeting and asked residents to call church headquarters to ask for a still smaller temple, according to news reports. ^[14]Walch, Tad. “Church Says Texas Town Not Standing by Settlement Reached for the McKinney Texas Temple.” Deseret News, 28 Jan. 2025, www.deseret.com/faith/2025/01/27/church-fairview-town-mckinney-texas-temple-rluipa.

A town representative did just that the following day. According to a letter from a church attorney, an attorney for the town called him and asked for the church to accept a temple significantly smaller than the one the sides agreed to in mediation. Mayor Lessner then was quoted in the December town newsletter as saying, “through our attorneys, we have told (the church) that there is a good chance that the new design with the 120-foot tower will not be accepted.”^[15]Walch, Tad. “Church Says Texas Town Not Standing by Settlement Reached for the McKinney Texas Temple.” Deseret News, 28 Jan. 2025, www.deseret.com/faith/2025/01/27/church-fairview-town-mckinney-texas-temple-rluipa.

2024 December 20

On December 20, both sides held a videoconference. According to the church attorney’s letter, Lessner told church representatives that while he and the mayor pro tem intended to vote for mediated settlement, they did not know how others would vote in wake of negative reaction from some residents.^[16]Walch, Tad. “Church Says Texas Town Not Standing by Settlement Reached for the McKinney Texas Temple.” Deseret News, 28 Jan. 2025, www.deseret.com/faith/2025/01/27/church-fairview-town-mckinney-texas-temple-rluipa.

2025 January 13

The Church was supposed to submit a new application in early January for the smaller proposal. They did not do so, and In a letter dated Jan. 13, the church told an attorney representing the town in a letter that the new application was not filed because the church was concerned the town would not honor the nonbinding agreement reached in November’s mediation.

“In light of the foregoing circumstances, the church has no confidence that the town will make good on its commitments as set forth in the memorandum,” the church attorney stated. “The church is further concerned that proceeding as though the town will make good on its commitments will simply prejudice the church’s legal rights. Accordingly, the church will not submit an amended or new conditional use permit application today.”^[17]Walch, Tad. “Church Says Texas Town Not Standing by Settlement Reached for the McKinney Texas Temple.” Deseret News, 28 Jan. 2025, www.deseret.com/faith/2025/01/27/church-fairview-town-mckinney-texas-temple-rluipa.

2025 January 27

Attorneys representing the church had asked Fairview officials to allow the church representatives to meet with each town councilmember individually. According to the church attorney, town officials said they would share the invitation with the councilmembers but did not expect all to agree.

In light of this, the Church submitted a Request for Information, Copies of any and all documents that might be related to the way the City handeled botht he temple and prior requests for height variances an any other project to come before the city, then notified the city of intent to sue in order to protect it’s interests.^[18]Walch, Tad. “Church Says Texas Town Not Standing by Settlement Reached for the McKinney Texas Temple.” Deseret News, 28 Jan. 2025, www.deseret.com/faith/2025/01/27/church-fairview-town-mckinney-texas-temple-rluipa.

2025 January 27

In a letter dated 13 March, Daniel M. Trythall, president of the Allen stake of the church, sent a letter to the Town Council formally seeking reassurance that it would honor a compromise for a smaller temple. Upholding the agreement would make “judicial assistance” unnecessary, he wrote.

After a 60-day waiting period from its initial notice, the church plans to sue the town as soon as March 28 if the compromise is not reaffirmed.

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Details

Location

Exterior

Interior

Region

TEMPLES IN UNITED STATES _{by state}

Alabama	2	Birmingham · Huntsville
Alaska	1	Anchorage · Fairbanks
Arizona	7	Gilbert · Mesa · Phoenix · Queen Creek · Snowflake · The Gila Valley · Tucson · Yuma
Arkansas	1	Bentonville
California	12	Bakersfield · Feather River · Fresno · Los Angeles · Modesto · Newport · Oakland · Redlands · Sacramento · San Diego · San Jose · Yorba Linda
Colorado	4	Colorado Springs · Denver · Fort Collins · Grand Junction
Connecticut	1	Hartford
Florida	5	Fort Lauderdale · Jacksonville · Orlando · Tallahassee · Tampa
Georgia	1	Atlanta
Hawaii	4	Honolulu · Kahului · Kona · Laie
Idaho	10	Boise · Burley · Coeur d’Alene · Idaho Falls · Meridian · Montpelier · Pocatello · Rexburg · Teton River · Twin Falls
Illinois	2	Chicago · Nauvoo
Indiana	1	Indianapolis
Iowa	1	Des Moines
Kansas	1	Wichita
Kentucky	1	Louisville
Louisiana	1	Baton Rouge
Maryland	1	Washington D.C.
Massachusetts	1	Boston
Michigan	2	Detroit · Grand Rapids
Minnesota	1	St. Paul
Missouri	3	Kansas City · Springfield · St. Louis
Montana	3	Billings · Helena · Missoula
Nebraska	1	Winter Quarters
Nevada	4	Elko · Las Vegas · Lone Mountain · Reno
New Jersey	1	Summit
New Mexico	2	Albuquerque · Farmington
New York	2	Manhattan · Palmyra
North Carolina	2	Charlotte · Raleigh
North Dakota	1	Bismarck
Ohio	3	Cincinnati · Cleveland · Columbus
Oklahoma	2	Oklahoma City · Tulsa
Oregon	3	Medford · Portland · Willamette Valley ·
Pennsylvania	3	Harrisburg · Philadelphia · Pittsburgh
South Carolina	1	Columbia
Tennessee	3	Knoxville · Memphis · Nashville
Texas	10	Austin · Dallas · El Paso · Fort Worth · Houston South · Houston · Lubbock · McAllen · McKinney · San Antonio
Utah	30	Bountiful · Brigham City · Cedar City · Deseret Peak · Draper · Ephraim · Heber Valley · Jordan River · Layton · Lehi · Lindon · Logan · Manti · Monticello · Mount Timpanogos · Ogden · Oquirrh Mountain · Orem · Payson · Price · Provo Rock Canyon · Provo City Center · Red Cliffs · Salt Lake · Saratoga Springs · St. George · · Smithfield · Syracuse · Taylorsville · Vernal · West Jordan
Virginia	3	Richmond · Roanoke · Winchester
Washington	6	Columbia River · Moses Lake · Seattle · Spokane · Tacoma · Vancouver
Wisconsin	1	Milwaukee
Wyoming	3	Casper · Cody · Star Valley

Sources and Citations