Harrison New York Temple
Encyclopedia
The Harrison New York Temple, previously known as the White Plains New York Temple, was a planned temple
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that was to be constructed in Harrison
, New York
. Construction of the Temple was to take place on a 24-acre site purchased by the LDS Church at the intersection of Interstate 287 and Hutchinson River Parkway. Reportedly, efforts had been underway until 2004, but construction was never started and eventually suspended. After delays by lawsuits and objections by local officials, this temple was removed from the list on the LDS Church's official temple website soon after the dedication of the Manhattan New York Temple
. Any decision to build a temple on this site would constitute a new announcement.
, President Gordon B. Hinckley
, at the time First Counselor in the First Presidency
, announced plans for the Hartford Connecticut Temple
. However, three years later, plans for this temple were replaced with plans for the Boston Massachusetts Temple
and the White Plains New York Temple (later to be renamed the Harrison New York Temple).
On March 10, 2001, New York State Supreme Court Justice Peter Leavitt overturned the decision of the Harrison Board of Appeals. Judge Leavitt ordering a variance to be issued to allow construction of the temple. The Board countered by filing its own appeal. Despite the pending lawsuit, the LDS Church attended a public meeting with the Harrison Town Board on June 11, 2001. The LDS Church requested a special exception permit, which specifies how the temple will be used. Overwhelming opposition was expressed by neighbors including concerns over traffic, size of the building, height of the steeple, and nighttime flood lighting of the exterior.
This meeting started eight months of negotiations between the LDS Church and residents. This included public hearings, four traffic studies, and environmental reports. Having exhausted any administrative options, the LDS Church file suit on December 17, 2001, accusing the town of infringing on freedom of religion and assembly.
On April 30, 2002, members of the Harrison Town Board then voted unanimously to approve a proposed settlement with the LDS Church. It appeared that the town would likely lose in court and spend millions of dollars if legal action were pursued. The agreement resulted in numerous concessions by the LDS Church. This included, but was not limited to, reducing the building size, height and capacity.
inside an existing Church-owned building. The LDS Church had not indicated how the opening of the Manhattan temple would effect the temple Harrison. James Staudt, a White Plains lawyer representing the LDS Church did said
"It will be built.". He explained that the church was working to connect the property to a sewer lines and that, once completed, the church would move on to the next phase of construction.
However, by 2006, after the Manhattan temple opened, work at the Harrison site stopped and the Harrison New York Temple was removed from the Church's official list of announced temples.
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that was to be constructed in Harrison
Harrison, New York
Harrison is a village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States, located approximately northeast of Manhattan. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census.-Establishment:...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Construction of the Temple was to take place on a 24-acre site purchased by the LDS Church at the intersection of Interstate 287 and Hutchinson River Parkway. Reportedly, efforts had been underway until 2004, but construction was never started and eventually suspended. After delays by lawsuits and objections by local officials, this temple was removed from the list on the LDS Church's official temple website soon after the dedication of the Manhattan New York Temple
Manhattan New York Temple
The Manhattan New York Temple is the 119th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is the second "high rise" LDS temple to be constructed, after the Hong Kong China Temple, and the third LDS temple converted from an existing building...
. Any decision to build a temple on this site would constitute a new announcement.
History
On Saturday, October 3, 1992 during the afternoon session of the church’s 162nd Semiannual General ConferenceGeneral Conference (LDS Church)
General Conference is a semiannual world conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held in April and October, where members gather in a series of two-hour sessions to listen to instruction from Church leaders...
, President Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
, at the time First Counselor in the First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
, announced plans for the Hartford Connecticut Temple
Hartford Connecticut Temple
The Hartford Connecticut Temple is a planned temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be constructed in Hartford, Connecticut...
. However, three years later, plans for this temple were replaced with plans for the Boston Massachusetts Temple
Boston Massachusetts Temple
The Boston Massachusetts Temple is the 100th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The Boston Massachusetts Temple is located in the Boston suburb of Belmont, Massachusetts and was dedicated for use on 1 October 2000. When LDS Church President Gordon B...
and the White Plains New York Temple (later to be renamed the Harrison New York Temple).
Lot purchase
On March 8, 1996, the LDS Church purchased a 24-acre site for the temple at the intersection of Interstate 287 and Hutchinson River Parkway. The location of the site in Harrison was reflected in a name change, renaming the White Plains New York Temple to Harrison New York Temple. The name change was made during a major renaming of many of the church's temples to a uniform guidelines in October 1999.Legal issues
Plans for a 44-foot-high temple, came before the Harrison Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday, September 28, 2000. The temples height required the LDS Church to apply for a variance to the 30-foot height limit. In a 5-2 vote, the Board denied the variance.On March 10, 2001, New York State Supreme Court Justice Peter Leavitt overturned the decision of the Harrison Board of Appeals. Judge Leavitt ordering a variance to be issued to allow construction of the temple. The Board countered by filing its own appeal. Despite the pending lawsuit, the LDS Church attended a public meeting with the Harrison Town Board on June 11, 2001. The LDS Church requested a special exception permit, which specifies how the temple will be used. Overwhelming opposition was expressed by neighbors including concerns over traffic, size of the building, height of the steeple, and nighttime flood lighting of the exterior.
This meeting started eight months of negotiations between the LDS Church and residents. This included public hearings, four traffic studies, and environmental reports. Having exhausted any administrative options, the LDS Church file suit on December 17, 2001, accusing the town of infringing on freedom of religion and assembly.
On April 30, 2002, members of the Harrison Town Board then voted unanimously to approve a proposed settlement with the LDS Church. It appeared that the town would likely lose in court and spend millions of dollars if legal action were pursued. The agreement resulted in numerous concessions by the LDS Church. This included, but was not limited to, reducing the building size, height and capacity.
Plans suspended
The seven-year dispute contributed to the decision by the LDS Church to build the Manhattan New York TempleManhattan New York Temple
The Manhattan New York Temple is the 119th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is the second "high rise" LDS temple to be constructed, after the Hong Kong China Temple, and the third LDS temple converted from an existing building...
inside an existing Church-owned building. The LDS Church had not indicated how the opening of the Manhattan temple would effect the temple Harrison. James Staudt, a White Plains lawyer representing the LDS Church did said
"It will be built.". He explained that the church was working to connect the property to a sewer lines and that, once completed, the church would move on to the next phase of construction.
However, by 2006, after the Manhattan temple opened, work at the Harrison site stopped and the Harrison New York Temple was removed from the Church's official list of announced temples.
See also
- Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsComparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsBelow is a chronological list of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with sortable columns. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and considered by church members to be the most sacred structures on earth...
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
- Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)