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Citizens press council over proposed sale of Garden Avenue right‑of‑way to Church of Scientology; council discussion continues
Summary
At the March 31 CRA meeting and council work session, residents questioned transparency and potential uses after staff presented a proposed sale of a vacated portion of Garden Avenue to the Church of Scientology for $1,375,000. Council and PSTA asked technical and access questions; no final council vote was recorded.
City staff presented a proposal on March 31 to declare a vacated portion of Garden Avenue (Garden Street) surplus and to sell it to the Church of Scientology for $1,375,000; the item prompted extended public comment and a detailed council discussion but no final sale vote at the March 31 meetings.
Public commenters asked how the deal was negotiated and whether the public and council had adequate notice. Jill Gibbs and Kelly (identified on the record as a 17‑year Clearwater resident and leader of the Pinellas Biblical Citizens Task Force) spoke during the CRA public comment period, raising concerns about transparency, public access to the vacated right‑of‑way, the Church of Scientology's past activities in Clearwater and whether the proposed vacation would remove…
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