Clearwater city leaders are scheduled to revisit a decision involving public street access for a Church of Scientology project on Thursday, Nov. 5, after opponents gathered enough verified petition signatures to require reconsideration. The Garden Avenue ordinance is on the agenda for the City Council's 6 p.m. meeting at City Hall Council Chambers, 200 S. Myrtle Ave.
The council approved the ordinance in June, conditionally vacating public right-of-way along a section of South Garden Avenue. Opponents organized through Save the Garden and submitted approximately 10,812 signatures challenging the decision. In September, council members agreed to forward the petition to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections for review.
Election officials validated 7,577 signatures, surpassing the city charter's requirement of 7,067. The deputy city clerk certified the petition as sufficient on Oct. 13. That certification requires the council to reconsider the ordinance, with the Nov. 5 agenda identifying the matter as action on Referendum Petition 26-01.
Under Clearwater's charter, the council can repeal the ordinance. If it declines to do so, the charter calls for a special election within 90 to 150 days. Whether an election can proceed remains uncertain, however. The city has asked Florida's attorney general whether state law permits a referendum challenging this ordinance, given restrictions involving certain development orders and land-use regulations. An opinion was still pending in the city's Nov. 5 agenda memorandum.
The disagreement reflects a broader conflict over downtown Clearwater, where the Church of Scientology has operated its international spiritual headquarters for decades and expanded its presence. That growth has generated longstanding tensions with some residents and city leaders over development. During a separate recent street debate, Mayor Bruce Rector emphasized public ownership: "The citizens of the city of Clearwater own that street."
Other proposed street changes have intensified the dispute. Council members voted 3-2 to vacate public rights-of-way on parts of Laura Street, Grove Street and an alley for a proposed EVO Entertainment Center backed by the church. The $50 million project would include seven movie theaters, bowling, laser tag and an arcade. Developers say the closures would let families travel safely between parking areas and the complex without crossing active streets.
Save the Garden organizer Brooks Gibbs linked that vote to his group's challenge after submitting the petition. "For the last year we've been warning the City Council that they're coming for our streets," he said. "It's not just Garden Avenue."
Thursday's meeting could also revive concerns about access to public comment. Earlier meetings concerning church-backed projects drew large crowds, sometimes with attendees arriving hours ahead. At an October meeting, resident Jill Gibbs accused Scientology supporters of occupying space in line and preventing opponents from entering and speaking. Church spokesperson Erin Banks rejected suggestions that the church directed attendance, saying attendees were passionate about the project and downtown redevelopment.
Rector acknowledged that supporters arriving early in large numbers could influence who gets a chance to speak, but said that would not affect council members' votes. The expected turnout for Thursday's meeting remains unclear as the council prepares to reconsider its June action and the legal question surrounding a possible referendum remains unresolved.
