The site of the planned Vancouver Washington Temple is actually in Camas. (Contributed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ proposed three-story, 43,000-square-foot temple in Camas won’t hurt the environment, according to the city of Camas’ review of the project released Thursday.
The church announced in 2023 that it planned to build 20 new temples worldwide, including one near Vancouver. In early 2024, the church revealed it planned to build the Clark County temple on 19 acres near the intersection of Southeast Bybee Road and Southeast 20th Street in Camas, though the official name is Vancouver Washington Temple.
The church bought the land, currently zoned for regional commercial use, for $8.25 million in May 2023, according to Clark County property documents. The plans call for a three-story, 267-foot brick building, which includes a 66-foot spire.
“Lighting will be provided with luminaires along various building edges to increase safety and security around the buildings throughout the proposed campus,” according to the city’s environmental review. “Lights will be installed and shielded to minimize dispersion and control any potential offsite impacts. Intensity of lighting will be kept at a level to assure safety on the site, but will meet all applicable city of Camas light shielding and glare reductions.”
Public Comment
Comments regarding the city of Camas’ environmental review of the proposed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple are due by 5 p.m. Jan. 30 and can be emailed to communitydevelopment@cityofcamas.us or mailed to Camas Planning Manager Robert Maul, Community Development Department, 616 N.E. Fourth Ave., Camas, WA 98607.
The development, which will require realigning parts of Southeast Bybee Road, would add 173 vehicles during the morning peak traffic hour and 184 vehicles during the evening peak hour, according to the report.
Stormwater runoff from the roof areas of the temple and a planned 3,300-square-foot utility building, as well as the adjacent parking lot and other paved areas, will be “collected with catch basins and routed to … a wet pond,” according to the report.
Although nearby residents have voiced worries that the development will harm the environment and migratory birds, city staff determined the church’s plan won’t negatively impact the environment or wildlife, including deer, songbirds and waterfowl migrating along the Pacific Flyway.
The city will take public comment on its decision under the State Environmental Policy Act through Jan. 30.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the height of the building and spire.
The new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-say Saints temple planned in Clark County will be at Southeast 20th Street and Southeast Bybee Road in Camas.
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