“My wife and I moved to Anthem specifically because it was an orderly, well planned Residential Community.
To grant a variance to the LDS Church( or any other church for that matter) for use as an extension of church business in a residential Area sets a bad and irreversible precedent which will alter the residential integrity of our community!!!
It will negatively affect home values in the area and create congestion and parking problems.
In addition it will open the floodgates for a myriad of other “variances” that will only dilute the residential character of our neighborhoods!
We implore you to do the right and responsible thing for residents of Anthem and vote “NO” on the LDS Church Variance Request!”
—Thomas and Joan Cook, Anthem
“I have been a Realtor for over 35 years and it is my experience that once you change the variance/zoning and use of a residential property it devalues the neighborhood and future sales. It opens it up for someone else in the future, buying the house next door or across the street from the Changed Use property, to do something similar because a precedent has been made. I have also seen a case in Pasadena, CA where once this happened, the new Changed Use property wanted to add more to its plans and used this as the excuse to buy up several other properties right next door and across the street to add more space. It ended up changing the entire demographics of the neighborhood to the worse and not better. All because a precedent had been made and to not approve now would be discrimination and would invoke a lawsuit.
Also, I suggest you look up the unfair practices of charging more to non-Mormon students. The Bar Association is investigating the BYU Law School for discrimination. I believe this to be a discrimination and could affect all other non-Mormon students in the Anthem area. I would like to think that a great place like Anthem should not even go down this road.
There are plenty of empty commercial buildings (very close to the high school) that can be made into a school or seminary without having to change a residential property. There is also vacant land they could also build on, whatever their specifications might be.
I am opposed to allowing this variance.
—Diane Dee Lee, Anthem
“When I first read this article last week pertaining to the conversion of a residential home to a ‘seminary’ for the LDS church, my first thought was, ‘Hmm, sounds like some Board members are affiliated with this church.’ I mean, really? I honestly can understand the FRUSTRATION of having this run in someone’s neighborhood.
I almost laughed when one of the reasons for this home for the LDS church was that it was in walking distance for students. Another, “Really?” Most the teenage kids in this area have a car or use their parent’s vehicles. I am sure this church, which is not poor by any means, can afford to do business in one of the empty buildings on Venture Drive.
I had someone doing business in a home they rented across from where I live and I can only write that I was more than happy when this person moved out. Total nightmare!
I hope the residents of this street do not keep quiet about this, and I would only ask these Board members this: Would you like someone running some type of business in your neighborhood?”
“There is a lack of understanding what the HOA can and cannot do. The HOA can’t stop a church or business from being held inside any home occupied by a resident.* Residential zoning in the county and community allow for that. That is the issue here, not religion, not crowds, not traffic. The ONLY thing the board [is being asked to] vote on is whether or not a home can be owned and not occupied or resided in. We have businesses in homes, we have churches in homes and no variance is needed for that if the home is resided in. We also have “illegal” vacation rentals (VRBO Air BnB) and snowbird homes in our community none of those residents asked for a required variance to allow that to happen.
1. Even if there are LDS members of the board, wouldn’t they represent the large LDS population opinion to the board? Conflict of interest is a term used to describe the situation in which a public official or fiduciary who, contrary to the obligation and absolute duty to act for the benefit of the public or a designated individual, exploits the relationship for personal benefit, typically pecuniary (money). Its not like these board members get extra blessings for voting one way or the other or would benefit financially from the seminary building being built.
2. Many who commented at the last meeting were in opposition, however they kept repeating the same things that were already addressed by the board or the LDS church: parking, traffic, precedent… all were addressed. Its already illegal to park on those streets.
3. The Board is elected by residents to represent them, having something as small as a variance about the occupation of a home to be put before a full resident vote is wasteful and impractical.
4. Twenty to 30 kids moving from a home on the corner to the school immediately adjacent where they will be headed to other classes is hardly cause for concern when it comes to noise/traffic/etc. The building will only be used during school hours, with the activities being confined to the home. The home isn’t in the middle of the block, its not crossing a street, they wont be roaming the neighborhood, they have 5 minutes to get from the school to the seminary building and 5 minutes for the return trip.
5. Did you know that your neighbor could choose to open a seminary or Church or Business in their home, without approval from the HOA or any other variance? It is allowed in the CC&Rs, as are variances. You agreed to follow CC&Rs that allow for variances and allow for the board to vote on those variances.
6. The ONLY thing the LDS church is asking for is approval to not have a resident living within the home.”
*EDITOR’S NOTE: Anthem Parkside Initial Use Restrictions prohibits the use of a residential property for business activity except under specific restrictions.
“I completely agree with the objections of Anthem residents in the April 14 issue of In&Out who wish to block a variance that would allow a residential house to be converted into a seminary. Enough is enough, Anthem HOA!
My objection is not to the LDS church, it is to changing the CC&Rs, and to the way the Council and the boards have so often disregarded the wishes of the dues-paying residents through the years. (Need I mention the secret nighttime meetings a few years back?)
There have been so many changes in this community, I am beginning to feel the need to ask for my money back because what I was promised and what I paid for is NOT what I’m getting. PLEASE! No more fundamental rule changes.
And while I’m at it, I might as well ask for the Christmas lights back on the medians, and also the flowers in the spring and summer. Yes, and the brick road entryway, too. (And how about the big golf ball?) At the very least, if we can’t have Anthem back as it was designed and meant to be and promised to us, let’s leave it the way it is now. Enough!”
—Patricia Hubbard, Anthem Parkside