CORRECTION: The new Brigham City temple planned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will have about 9,000 square feet of space on each level. That point was unclear in Wednesday's Standard-Examiner.
BRIGHAM CITY -- Kerry Nielsen, an architect for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said the LDS Church has been very focused on making the proposed temple "the Brigham City, Utah Temple," using many of the city's historical designs for both the building and the landscaping.
"It has features in the classical historical design found in the Logan, Manti and Salt Lake Temple," Nielsen said.
The city planning commission gave its approval for the proposed design and found it to be consistent and in compliance with the city's commercial and general plan for the area.
The proposed 110-foot-by-72-foot building will stafnd across from the existing tabernacle, with the top of the Angel Moroni 14 feet higher than the highest point of the tabernacle. Each level of the temple will have about 9,000 square feet of space.
The parking area will consist of roughly 120 stalls on a main level and 130 stalls underground. Parking on the main level will be accessed from 200 and 300 South, and the underground parking will be accessed from the west.
Fencing will go around the temple grounds, but not around the parking lot. There are plans however, to maintain the current curb and gutter, which will allow the temple grounds to maintain control of the parking lot.
The outside of the temple is proposed to be precast concrete limestone.
"It will actually be a warm white color. The limestone puts texture and gives soft earth tones," Nielsen said.
Planning Commissioner Joan Peterson said she was greatly relieved to see the west side of the temple was as detailed as the east side.
"That will be able to be seen from the freeway," she said.
Nielsen agreed and said each time he comes to Brigham City he has taken a different road, to get a feeling for how the temple will be seen from the west.
Planning Commissioner Larry Jensen complimented Nielsen for his plans for the landscaping of the temple grounds.
"I want to congratulate you for planting fruit trees. What a nice touch to this area," Jensen said.
Nielsen said city staff has received mixed input regarding the church's leaving the sycamore trees that line Main Street.
"It is our intent to respect the Main Street corridor," Nielsen said, adding that a goal is to create "the same open space feeling as at the tabernacle."
When asked about lighting, Nielsen said the church typically lights the temple from within, and the church will typically light the front steeple.
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