The Cody Planning and Zoning board is holding a special meeting and public hearing on Wednesday, May 24, at the Cody Auditorium at 6 p.m. to consider a proposal for the new Cody Temple for The Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be located on a 4.69 acre-parcel off Skyline Drive.
The board will be looking at a conditional use permit application outlining the construction of the temple and auxiliary building as well as a special exemption request for the project.
The public can send written comments to the city by May 18 or present them on May 24.
The temple would be located in the Rural Residential zone, which does not allow for construction of houses of worship except through the conditional use review process, the application said.
“The temple will be a focal point for members of the area and will also be designed with the utmost attention to detail and aesthetics,” the application said. “Landscaping will be extensive and complementary to the building, and the overall design is intended to be in keeping with the culture and design style of the Cody area.”
The board will also be reviewing a special exemption request to exceed the 30-foot height limit in the zoning district. The special exemption is for the temple spire.
“The height of the spire over and above the allowable 30 feet maximum is a key component of the architectural aesthetic of the proposed temple,” the application said. “The portion of the building above the 30 foot maximum is only the tower/spire.”
The temple would serve the residents of multiple nearby stakes, including the Cody stake, which includes 3,749 members in Cody, Powell, Burlington, Meeteetse and Otto. The temple would also likely serve the Lovell stake — comprising 2,435 members in Byron, Cowley and Lovell — and the Worland stake — comprising 2,076 members in Thermopolis, Ten Sleep, Worland, Basin and Greybull — said Dusty Hoopes, the facilities manager for the LDS in Worland.
The Cody building would be the third temple in Wyoming. An 18,609-square-foot temple was built in Star Valley in 2016, while a roughly 10,000 square-foot temple is currently under construction in Casper.
The public can submit comments by May 18 to be incorporated into the board’s agenda packets or can be delivered in person at the public hearing on May 24.
Written comments can be emailed to City Planner Todd Stowell at todds@codywy.gov, hand delivered to City Hall or mailed to P.O. Box 2200.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold a community open house about the proposed Cody Wyoming Temple on Tuesday, May 23, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the chapel located on 1407 13th St. across from the rec center.
“All who have questions, concerns or would just like to see the artist rendering and other displays regarding temples are invited to come,” said local stake communications director Amy Dansie said.
Representatives from the church’s Special Projects Department in Salt Lake City will be in attendance to answer questions, she said.
(Stephen Dow contributed to this report.)
(2) comments
Get ready for the light pollution. Get ready for Skyline to become a major thoroughfare. Get ready for the quiet neighborhood up the hill to change. They'll tell you this will make Cody "beautiful" but it won't. We'll now have a large spire sticking up in the night sky, illuminated 24/7. Live east of the temple and want to see the mountains? Sorry...temple spire is blocking it. Want to see stars at night? Sorry...temple lights have hidden them. I have no problem with the LDS wanting to worship, but this will destroy the Cody skyline. This belongs out on Big Horn or the Greybull Hwy. But of course, knowing our city planner and his interest in this building, they will get whatever exemptions they want.
You hit the nail on the head Joe. Exactly. Well said.
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