Planning commission delays UDV church conditional‑use permit over parking analysis and neighborhood concerns

The Cottonwood Heights City Planning Commission on May 7 continued consideration of a conditional‑use permit (CUP 250004) requested by Bento Viana on behalf of Uneo de Vegetal (UDV) to operate a church at the former Wells Fargo branch, 3425 East Bengal Boulevard.

Staff told the commission the proposal would not alter major site elements of the existing approximately 2,300‑square‑foot building. The applicant proposes gatherings on the first and third Saturdays most months from about 8 p.m. to shortly after midnight, with additional weekday evenings or midday Sunday meetings at leadership discretion. The applicant’s narrative lists a congregation of 47 members and estimates 40–45 attendees at a typical gathering.

Staff identified two primary potential impacts: noise during late‑night hours and the site’s ability to accommodate peak‑period parking demand. The site currently has 15 dedicated stalls; the applicant submitted a late revised plan converting the former drive‑through canopy to four stalls and showing potential on‑street spaces along Bengal Boulevard, which city code does not allow staff to count toward minimum required parking. Staff recommended continuation to allow time for a focused parking analysis and for the applicant to pursue formal agreements with adjacent property owners for overflow parking if needed. Staff also noted that any tenant improvements would trigger building‑permit and fire‑department review.

Several residents spoke during the public hearing. Some raised safety and public‑health concerns tied to the religious practice — specifically references to ayahuasca and hallucinogenic tea — and said they did not want the church operating in their neighborhood. Representatives and members of the congregation, including Gabriel Weinam (identified in the hearing as a local UDV representative), said the group studies Christian teaching, discourages illegal drug use, and described their meetings as quiet and lawful. An applicant representative, who said he is a licensed Utah architect and a neighborhood resident, said the congregation’s growth has been slow and that he planned to seek permission from neighboring property owners for parking agreements.

After deliberation, Commissioner Shelton moved to continue CUP 250004 to the June 4, 2025 Planning Commission meeting for additional parking analysis; Commissioner Steinman seconded. Roll call votes recorded in the hearing transcript show unanimous support for the continuation (Commissioners Shelton, Barnes, Smith, Polson, Mills, Simon and Anderson recorded “yes”).