Clearwater, Fla. – On Thursday night the City Council will reconvene to vote on Referendum Petition 26-01, which challenges the June ordinance that temporarily vacated public right‑of‑way along South Garden Avenue for a Church of Scientology project. The petition, organized by the grassroots group Save the Garden, gathered 10,812 signatures; election officials confirmed that 7,577 of those signatures are valid, surpassing the 7,067 required by the city charter.
Petition verification and council agenda
The deputy city clerk certified the petition as sufficient on Oct. 13, triggering the council’s obligation to reconsider the ordinance at its 6 p.m. meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 S. Myrtle Ave. The agenda lists the item as “Action by City Council on Referendum Petition 26‑01.” If council members vote to repeal the ordinance, the matter is settled. If they uphold it, the charter mandates a special election within 90 to 150 days.
Legal question pending
Clearwater has asked Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody for an opinion on whether state law permits a referendum to challenge the Garden Avenue ordinance. Florida statutes limit referendums to certain land‑use and development orders, and the attorney general’s response, still pending as of the Nov. 5 agenda memorandum, could determine whether the dispute proceeds to a citywide vote.
Background on the controversy
The Church of Scientology, which has maintained its international spiritual headquarters in Clearwater for decades, sought to close a segment of Garden Avenue to facilitate traffic flow for a proposed entertainment complex. The city council approved the temporary vacation of the street in June, arguing that the closure would improve safety for families moving between parking areas and the development.
Opponents, led by Save the Garden organizer Brooks Gibbs, argue that the street is public property and should not be bargained away. “For the last year we’ve been warning the City Council that they’re coming for our streets,” Gibbs said. “It’s not just Garden Avenue.”
Mayor and council perspectives
Mayor Bruce Rector emphasized the principle that city streets belong to the residents. “The citizens of the city of Clearwater own that street,” Rector said at a recent council meeting. “It’s not anyone’s to bargain or negotiate with. It’s their street. That’s the concern here.”
Council members are split on the issue. The original ordinance passed by a narrow 3‑2 vote, and the same margin could shape Thursday’s decision. Councilmember [Name] noted that the petition reflects genuine community concern and urged careful consideration of both public‑interest and development goals.
Related street‑vacation proposals
The Garden Avenue vote is part of a broader set of street‑vacation proposals approved earlier this year. The council also voted 3‑2 to vacate portions of Laura Street, Grove Street, and an alley for a $50 million EVO Entertainment Center, also backed by the Church of Scientology. Developers say the closures are necessary to safely move patrons without crossing active roadways.
Public participation and crowd dynamics
Previous council meetings involving Scientology‑backed projects have drawn large crowds, with some residents arriving hours early to speak. During an October meeting, resident Jill Gibbs accused supporters of the church of monopolizing line space, limiting opponents’ ability to address the council. Church spokesperson Erin Banks denied any organized effort, stating, “Are these people we see right now being told by the church that they have to be here? No, that’s ridiculous.”
Mayor Rector acknowledged that large turnouts can affect speaking opportunities but asserted that they do not influence how council members vote. “It doesn’t sway any of the council members how they vote,” he said. “It simply wastes time of others that want to speak.”
What’s at stake
If the council upholds the ordinance, the pending legal question about referendum eligibility will determine whether a special election is required. If the ordinance is repealed, the street will remain open to the public, and the proposed entertainment complex may need to redesign traffic patterns.
Clearwater residents, faith‑based groups, and local business owners will be watching Thursday’s meeting closely, as the outcome will set a precedent for how the city balances private development with public‑road preservation.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
