PROVO, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A Provo neighborhood is asking for help from Provo city leaders to stop construction on a large building at the Missionary Training Center for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The proposed building would be nine stories high and stand 145 feet tall. (That's just 15 feet short of BYU's Spencer W. Kimball Tower.) Neighbors just west of the MTC, oppose plans to build it.
"I want the public to have input," said Lorie Johnson, concerned neighbor.
Tuesday night over a dozen people from Provo's Pleasant View neighborhood shared their voices before the Provo City Council.
"We're hoping they will reconsider the size of the building," said Charlotte England, concerned neighbor.
"This is 408 feet away from my house," said Johnson.
Neighbors said the building would ruin their quality of life.
"That's going to destroy the view of the mountains, it's going to interfere with the beautiful view of the temple," said David Harris, concerned neighbor.
Tuesday night neighbors asked the city for a new zoning proposal that would limit the size of buildings around their neighborhood. However, city leaders said neighbors efforts are too late.
"The city believes the church's application came in and was complete before citizens' proposal came in," said Helen Anderson, Provo City Spokesperson.
The city leaders said they can't retroactively change the law, so the city council discussed ways to prevent this situation for the future. Meanwhile, neighbors vow to stop construction from starting.
"So you still believe there's a fight left to be had?" Reporter Brian Carlson asked.
"We do, and we're hoping," said Johnson.
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Follow Brian Carlson on Twitter: @tv_briancarlson
