SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve the Right-of-Way Vacation request from the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization for the city right-of-way more particularly described as the southern portion of Garden Avenue abutting Lots 6-11 together with that portion abutting the vacated 15 foot alley lying between Lots 10 and 11 of Court Square Subdivision as recorded in Plat Book 5, Page 53 of the Public Records of Pinellas County, Florida, and pass Ordinance 9907-26 on first reading.
Body
SUMMARY:
On April 17, 2026, the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization submitted an application to vacate city Right-of-Way (ROW), located at South Garden Avenue between Court Street and Franklin Street.
The area proposed to be vacated contains .65 acres more or less, including 22 city-paid parking spaces.
A multi-departmental internal review was completed on May 15, 2026. The internal review identified the need for easements for existing city utility infrastructure, code requirement to pay for removed public parking spaces in the ROW, traffic impact concerns, and excerpts from the Community Development Code, Mobility Policy, Downtown Redevelopment Plan, and Comprehensive Plan.
The Applicant seeks to vacate this ROW portion as part of an assemblage for development of an Entry Plaza and Performance Hall.
Conditions include: 1. Applicant shall obtain a certificate of occupancy for the primary structure of the development within 5 years of the execution of the Ordinance; 2. Applicant shall execute and return to the City within 30 calendar days any new easements as necessary to accommodate new or existing public utilities as appropriate; 3. Applicant will be responsible for the reasonable relocation of utilities within the Right-of-Way upon request and at no expense to the City; 4. Applicant will comply with the requirements of City Code 30.095(4) which will include payment of $114,450.00 as permanent parking meter removal; 5. City may continue full use of Right-of-Way until such time as City issues a right-of-way permit, and City will not be required to issue the right-of-way permit until City has issued building permits authorizing construction supporting the development; 6. This vacation Ordinance would not take effect unless the conditions are satisfied.
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
1. High Performing Government: Embrace a culture of innovation that rives continuous improvement
2. Preserve community livability through responsible development standards, proactive code compliance, and targeted revitalization.
