Clearwater council approves Garden Avenue closure for Scientology project

The Clearwater City Council voted 3-2 Thursday to approve the vacation of a portion of Garden Avenue, clearing the way for the Church of Scientology to incorporate the public right-of-way into plans for its future L. Ron Hubbard Hall in downtown Clearwater.

The decision came after nearly two hours of public comment and council debate, drawing one of the largest crowds seen at a Clearwater City Council meeting in recent years.

Mayor Bruce Rector and Councilmember Lina Teixeira voted against the proposal. Vice Mayor Ryan Cotton and Councilmembers Mike Mannino and David Allbritton supported it.

The vote authorizes the closure of a section of Garden Avenue between Scientology-owned properties near the church’s international spiritual headquarters in downtown Clearwater.

Before debate began, city officials paused the meeting to address crowding concerns. Police and fire officials said the building had reached a safe capacity of roughly 650 people, while an estimated 2,000 additional attendees remained outside. The council recessed the meeting to allow several additional opponents of the proposal to enter and speak.

Supporters and opponents agreed on one point throughout the evening: the proposed L. Ron Hubbard Hall could be built. The disagreement centered on whether permanently closing Garden Avenue was necessary to make the project happen.

Supporters repeatedly framed the issue as one of public safety.

Several speakers described the planned hall as a venue that could host thousands of attendees during religious gatherings, community events and international broadcasts. Many argued that removing vehicle traffic from the area would create a safer environment for families and visitors.

Cotton, a firefighter and first responder, said his decision was based primarily on security concerns.

“This comes down to safety for me,” Cotton said during council discussion, citing the potential danger posed by vehicles entering crowded public spaces.

Many speakers supporting the closure also described personal experiences with religious discrimination or harassment and said the additional separation between the hall and traffic would provide greater security for church members and guests.

Opponents argued that the project could move forward without eliminating a public street.

Several speakers associated with the Save the Garden movement said the closure would permanently remove a public asset from downtown Clearwater while providing little public benefit. Others pointed to petitions that organizers said gathered thousands of signatures opposing the proposal.

Business owner Tony Tello, owner of downtown piano bar Nash Keys, urged council members to let voters decide the issue through a referendum process rather than approve the closure.

Others argued that Garden Avenue remains an active roadway and could continue serving future downtown growth, particularly as nearby redevelopment projects move forward.

A central issue throughout the debate involved ownership of the land beneath Garden Avenue.

Opponents repeatedly urged the council to delay action until a court could determine whether the city or adjacent property owners hold title to the underlying property.

The controversy intensified earlier this year after a Florida Attorney General opinion concluded that ownership likely rests with the adjoining property owners rather than the city.

Rector said he respected the attorney general’s opinion but believed a judicial ruling would provide greater certainty before permanently vacating the roadway.

“I think we owe that to our citizens and taxpayers,” Rector said.

Supporters argued that local governments routinely rely on attorney general opinions and that no compelling reason existed to postpone the decision further.

Mannino cited traffic studies showing minimal use of the roadway and said previous legal and technical reviews supported approval.

The vote concludes a lengthy public process that included multiple council discussions, negotiations and public hearings.

Opponents indicated Thursday that litigation and referendum efforts could follow, suggesting the dispute over Garden Avenue may continue even after the council’s final approval.