Construction can go forward on the Heber Valley Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after a judge said Wednesday that Wasatch County’s approval of the project was legal.
The decision from 4th District Judge Jennifer Mabey ends the legal battle over whether the county’s use of a legislative development agreement to approve the project violated federal or state laws.
A small group of residents in Red Ledges, the neighborhood across the street from the future temple site, sued the county in November 2023, shortly after leaders said the plans could go forward. The church joined the lawsuit as a defendant in January 2024.
Mabey heard oral arguments from attorneys for the residents, the church and Wasatch County on June 2.
During the hearing, the residents’ attorney, Robert Mansfield, argued that the temple plans violated the county’s general plan and the state’s laws for county land use.
Mabey disagreed Tuesday, saying those arguments were not well supported.
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