GILBERT, Ariz. -- The town council overturned a design review board decision and granted permission for a growing church to build a temporary worship dome.
The Arizona Republic reported that St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church wants to build the dome and use it for up to five years while raising money for a building project.
The 700-family church outgrew space at the Williams Community School gymnasium and plans to build a sprawling church campus with a chapel, athletic fields and kindergarten through eighth-grade school.
The design board denied the request by a 3-2 vote because some members thought the tan, bulbous structure would be an eyesore, the newspaper reported. The church appealed and the council voted unanimously to allow the temporary structure to be erected.
Parishioner Bill Montgomery said the council's decision was a relief.
"The blinders need to be open a bit," he said. "I don't want to be in this temporary structure any longer than necessary. The desire is to have a worship space consistent with what my faith is all about."
