Council grants fourth conditional-use extension to Church of Scientology at 6801 Delmar Boulevard

The University City City Council on Feb. 10, 2025, approved a fourth extension of the conditional-use permit (CUP) for the Church of Scientology’s redevelopment at 6801 Delmar Boulevard.

Planning staff member Dr. Wagner said the original conditional-use permit was approved in 2018 and described the item as a request for another extension; he noted this would be the fourth extension. Dr. Wagner said the packet includes past extension letters and renderings.

Susana Kinnear, representing the Church of Scientology, told council the church has hired Jacobs to complete development drawings and that the revised project timeline shows construction beginning in December 2025 following permit approvals, bidding and contract negotiation. Kinnear said preservation research had been completed in the last year and factored into the schedule.

Several councilmembers raised neighbors’ earlier concerns about construction vibrations and potential damage to adjacent historic homes. Mayor Crowe and others asked whether vibration monitoring or neighbor agreements were included in the CUP. Dr. Wagner said he did not see vibration requirements in the CUP packet but would locate any such conditions and outreach records and said staff could add appropriate conditions or reach back out to neighbors.

Council member Poehler noted the project had switched contractors midstream, which may have contributed to delays. Council member Fuller made the motion to approve the extension; Council member Teeman seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.

The council did not specify additional permit conditions at the meeting; staff committed to locating past agreements or conditions related to vibration monitoring and to coordinating further outreach with neighbors if needed.