The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has submitted plans to build a Mormon Temple in Farmington and a public hearing will be held on Wednesday night.
The 35,500-square-foot temple would sit along Route 4 at the intersection of Melrose Drive. There would also be two smaller buildings on the property. The building would be covered with white granite and would stand about 36-feet tall with a 115-foot steeple, according to the plans.
The land where the temple would be built is partially open but also includes a business and five houses that would have to be torn down, according to the church.
"I think it's a good thing. The more people coming into town, the more people attending the restaurants, going to restaurants and more exposure to the businesses that are here," said Kathleen Freeman. Freeman works at a nearby business that would not be affected by the development.
"Don't have a problem with it. We have enough traffic out here as it is. We can handle some more, right? And welcome to the Mormon temple when they come," Harry Unsworth, of Farmington, said.
Not everyone supports the project. Several people shared concerns about increased traffic along Route 4 and other issues, but declined to be interviewed.
The plans do call for adding a new road to accommodate extra traffic. It would start along Melrose Drive and go to Bridgewater Road.
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"I don't see why not. We have Christian and Catholic church in town so why couldn't we have a Mormon one?" said Jazzya Rivera.
"Don't have a problem with it. We have enough traffic out here as it is. We can handle some more, right? And welcome to the Mormon temple when they come," said Harry Unsworth.
Several town officials declined to comment on the project at this point in the process.
The project needs approval from the Wetlands and Planning and Zoning Commissions. The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. in town hall chambers on May 23.
