About a month ago, I shared why I believe approximately 70 acres of public land deserves a public vote before its future is permanently changed.

Since then, I've learned another detail that made me stop and think.

The developer behind the proposed redevelopment of The Landings is seeking $45 million in Tourist Development Tax funding.

To put that into perspective, that's roughly half of what Pinellas County collects in Tourist Development Tax revenue in a typical year.

If you're not familiar with the Tourist Development Tax, it's commonly known as the "bed tax." It's paid primarily by visitors staying in hotels, motels, and short-term vacation rentals throughout Pinellas County. Those funds are intended to support tourism-related projects and initiatives that benefit the county's visitor economy.

Whether you support the proposal, oppose it, or simply haven't made up your mind, a request for funding of this magnitude deserves attention.

But for me, this story isn't really about the money.

It's about who should make the decision.

Some residents support the proposal exactly as it's presented.

Others oppose it entirely.

Others may support redeveloping the property but prefer an entirely different vision.

Reasonable people can disagree.

The real question is whether a project involving approximately 70 acres of public land and a request for $45 million in public tourism funding should ultimately be decided by elected officials alone or by the voters through a public referendum.

A referendum doesn't guarantee one side wins.

It simply guarantees that the people have the opportunity to decide.

City councils make important decisions every day.

That's exactly what they're elected to do.

However, projects of this size and financial significance naturally raise a larger question.

At what point does a proposal become significant enough that the public should have the final say?

For many residents, 70 acres of public land and a request for funding equal to roughly half of one year's Tourist Development Tax revenue may cross that line.

One question continues to stand out:

How will the public have an opportunity to comment before final decisions are made?

I was recently told there may not be an opportunity for public comments or questions during the upcoming open house. If that's the case, I'd like to know when Clearwater residents will have an opportunity to share their thoughts before any final decisions are made.

If additional public meetings or opportunities for public input are planned, I'd genuinely like to know when and how residents can participate.

If you have official information that would help answer that question, please reach out.

Keeping neighbors informed is exactly what My Clearwater Scoop is all about.

Whether you support this proposal...

Whether you oppose it...

Or whether you'd simply like to see Clearwater residents have a direct voice in deciding the future of public land...

I believe approximately 70 acres of public land and a request for roughly half of one year's Tourist Development Tax revenue deserve something more than a standard council vote.

That deserves a public referendum.

After all, a public vote isn't about guaranteeing a particular outcome.

It's about giving the public the opportunity to decide.

🗳️ Public Land Deserves a Public Vote.

Read Our Original Article →

Learn More at Keep Keene Green’s FB Page →

When the proposed Garden Avenue street vacation was first introduced, one detail immediately caught my attention.

As originally presented, the proposal included an estimated payment of approximately $1.4 million in connection with vacating the public right-of-way.

That payment represented compensation the city was originally expected to receive in exchange for vacating a portion of public property. Its removal changes an important part of the proposal and is one reason many residents are taking a closer look.

Since then, the proposal has changed.

According to the latest version, that estimated payment is no longer part of the proposal.

That's a significant change.

Naturally, it raises some reasonable questions.

What changed?

Why is the payment no longer part of the proposal?

Was the original estimate incorrect?

Was the compensation moved elsewhere as part of the negotiations?

Or did the city's position simply change?

At this point, I don't have those answers.

It's Thursday night as I'm writing this, and I'll continue following the story as more information becomes available. If city officials or the applicant provide additional clarification, I'll gladly share that information with everyone.

It's important to remember that development proposals often evolve. Terms change, negotiations continue, and details are refined before final decisions are made.

That said, when a proposal involving public property changes in a meaningful way, I believe residents deserve to know what's different.

For now, here's what we know:

• The original proposal included an estimated payment of approximately $1.4 million.

• The current proposal no longer includes that payment.

Everything beyond those facts is a question that still deserves an answer.

I also believe this proposal deserves the same conversation many residents are having about The Landings.

Vacating a public street is a permanent decision.

Once it's gone, it's gone.

That's why I believe the future of public property should be decided by the people who own it...the residents of Clearwater.

A petition is currently circulating to place the Garden Avenue proposal on the ballot as a public referendum.

If that's something you support, there's still time to sign the petition.

A public vote doesn't guarantee a particular outcome.

It simply gives the community the opportunity to decide whether this public property should be vacated.

As always, my goal isn't to tell you what to think.

It's simply to help keep our community informed as these proposals continue to evolve.

🗳️ Public Property Deserves a Public Vote.

When we think about art teachers, we usually picture them encouraging students to paint, draw, sculpt, and explore their creativity.

However this time, the teachers are the artists.

The Clearwater Main Library is currently hosting "The Courage to Create: Artists Inspiring Artists," an exhibition featuring artwork created by Pinellas County art teachers and staff. The exhibit is a collaboration between the Clearwater Arts Alliance and the Pinellas Art Education Association.

It's a reminder that the people inspiring creativity in our classrooms are creative themselves.

One teacher summed it up perfectly by saying, "I'm a teacher first, but I'm an art teacher because I'm an artist. I do believe in practicing what you teach."

That idea really resonated with me.

We often celebrate the accomplishments of students, and rightfully so. But behind every young artist is a teacher who spends countless hours encouraging imagination, building confidence, and reminding students that there isn't always just one right answer.

The exhibit also highlights something many of us probably don't think about.

After spending an entire day helping others create, many art teachers have little time or energy left to make art of their own. Events like this encourage them to pick up the brush again, recharge their creativity, and return to the classroom inspired.

That benefits everyone.

When teachers continue to grow as artists, their students benefit from that passion and experience.

With summer temperatures in full swing, this might be the perfect excuse to beat the heat, enjoy the A/C at the Clearwater Main Library, and experience an exhibit showcasing the creativity of some of Pinellas County's talented art teachers.

You won't just be looking at beautiful artwork.

You'll be seeing the creativity behind the people who inspire the next generation of artists throughout Pinellas County.

Sometimes it's nice to take a break from politics and development projects and simply celebrate the talented people who make our community a little more colorful.

🎨 Congratulations to all of the participating teachers, and thank you for inspiring creativity in classrooms across Pinellas County.

Before you load up the car, take a peek at the live beach cam to see exactly how busy it is out there. Sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to go and when to enjoy our little slice of paradise another day.

Check current water temperatures and conditions Here

Watch the live Clearwater Beach Cam Here

Our pets aren't just animals - they're family. If you've seen any of the pets below please email us at [email protected] and we will connect you directly with their families. One share could bring someone's baby home.

Zena has been missing for over 130 days from the Seville Condo area near Clearwater Costco. Her heartbroken family will not give up searching

LEARN MORE →

Leah has been missing since April 28th from the King Arthur Court in Dunedin. Her Mom has owned her since she was a puppy.

LEARN MORE →

Lobo has been missing since May 11th from Gladden Park in St. Petersburg. Her Mom has owned her since she was a puppy.

LEARN MORE →

River is a one-year-old male tabby (brown, white, and gray) who slipped out the front door on May 30th, and last seen near 134th Ave and Trotter Rd in Largo.

LEARN MORE →

Mama Kitty is a 15 year old black cat with with a clipped left ear that went missing on June 4th, and last seen near Druid and Belcher in Clearwater.

LEARN MORE →

🎸 Smooth D Friday July 17th - FREE - 7:00 pm Whiskey Wings Countryside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Zach Seufert Firday July 17th - FREE - 5:00 pm Crabby’s Dockside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Human Clay - Creed Tribute Band Friday July 17th - 7:00 pm OCC Roadhouse Clearwater, FL TICKETS & INFO→

🎸 John Lodge Celebration Friday July 17th - Doors open at 7:00 pm Bilheimer Capital Theater Clearwater, FL TICKETS & INFO→

🎸 Men at Work with Toad the Wet Sprocket Saturday July 18th - 8:00 pm The BayCare Sound Clearwater, FL TICKETS & INFO→

🎸 The Fixx Monday July 20th - Doors open at 7:00 pm Bilheimer Capital Theater Clearwater, FL TICKETS & INFO→

🌳📅 Save The Landings: Speak Up. Show Up. - Tuesday, July 21st at 5:30pm - 7:00 pm at Trinity Presbyterian Church 2001 Rainbow Drive, Clearwater FL MAP →

Join this neighborhood-sponsored community event to learn more about the future of The Landings and make your voice heard.

Representatives from Porter Development will be there to listen to community concerns and provide an update on possible next steps. Attendees who wish to speak will have approximately two to three minutes to share their thoughts.

Questions expected to be discussed include: Will residents get a vote? What happens next? And how can the Clearwater community stay involved?

This event is open to everyone and is intended to help educate Clearwater residents about the issue.

📍 Trinity Presbyterian Church
⏱️ Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
🌎 Open to the public

Speak up. Show up. Let the people decide. INFO →

Hosted by Keep Keene Green.

READ MORE →

🚶Indoor Walking at the Countryside Mall: Beat the heat with some indoor walking, grab a bite to eat, browse the shops, or catch a movie…all while letting the mall’s A/C do the heavy lifting. MAP →

If you must be out in nature, please don’t forget to bring water

🌳🥾 Beat the Heat: Peaceful Nature Parks Looking to escape the crowds and cool off in the shade this weekend? Tampa Bay is loaded with hidden natural gems, all free to explore:

🦅 Moccasin Lake Nature Park (Clearwater) — A peaceful 51-acre preserve with shaded oak trails, boardwalks over the lake, and a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary where you can see rescued eagles, hawks, and falcons.

⛵ Clearwater Community Sailing Center A nonprofit sailing center at 1001 Gulf Blvd offering boat rentals, sailing lessons for all ages, and Summer Camp. Open Tuesday through Sunday 9am to 5pm. LEARN MORE →

🏓 Pickleball Court Locations: Here is the easiest way to find Pickleball courts near you with an interactive map. LEARN MORE →

🏖️ Near the Beach

🏙️ Inland

⚠️ Trivia nights and schedules can change. We recommend confirming directly with the venue before heading out. Know of a change or a new spot? Tell Scout →

Thanks for reading My Clearwater Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone that you think would enjoy it.

Until next time,

Stan, Scoop and Scout