Planning commission recommends approval for stake center at 171 East Michie Lane with conditions

The Midway Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a conditional use permit for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to build a stake center at approximately 171 East Michie Lane, planning staff said.

Michael, planning staff, told the commission the church site would occupy 4.85 acres of an 18.61-acre parcel and include a pavilion, maintenance storage, a play field just under a quarter-acre and 356 on-site parking stalls. “The code requires a stall per 3 seating space in the main assembly hall,” Michael said, noting the site meets parking and setback requirements.

Why it matters: Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant on traffic, water use and architectural compatibility with Midway’s themes. Michael said engineering review found Michie Lane can handle the expected traffic if the applicant constructs the planned turn-lane modifications, which the applicant must fund. Staff reported water estimates of 5.54 acre-feet for the project and that site irrigation leaves about 1.48 acres of irrigated area after impervious-surface calculations.

The staff report flagged a steeple height that initially measured 71.5 feet; staff required drawings to reduce the steeple to 70 feet to comply with the code. “Construction drawings must have a steeple height reduced down to 70 feet to comply with code,” Michael said. Staff also confirmed all lighting must meet Midway’s dark-sky ordinance and that a photometric study will be reviewed with the building permit.

The applicant’s architect, Andy, answered questions about building size and timing. He said construction depends on permit and church decisions and could begin in late spring or summer if permitted this year; otherwise the original plan was to start in 2027. “That that takes about a little under a year for these to go from breaking ground to members being welcomed in them,” Andy said.

After questions and brief discussion, a commissioner moved to recommend approval with staff’s two recommended conditions — reduction of the steeple height and an approved lighting plan — the motion was seconded and the planning commission approved the recommendation by voice vote.

What’s next: The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Midway City Council. The applicant must submit subdivision and building-permit applications, finalize engineering approvals for Michie Lane changes, and provide final construction drawings showing the reduced steeple height and a dark-sky-compliant lighting plan.