Anonycat
Crusader
CLEARWATER — An enormous mural draped Monday over a massive tent that was erected downtown by the Church of Scientology might violate city sign laws, city officials said.
The church, which didn't alert the city in advance about the mural, later told the city's planning director that it's a religious symbol.
Planning director Michael Delk said he will have to determine how much of the mural is signage and how much is symbol.
Related News/Archive
-- Giant 'Super Power' building in Clearwater takes a pause, yet millions keep flowing in
"We don't issue permits for Christmas trees," Delk said. "But we do regulate signage for churches."
Delk said he would talk more Tuesday with church representatives to make that determination. The city strictly regulates the size and number of signs that may be erected on a property, but the Scientology mural dwarfs even the largest billboards referenced in city codes.
Sunset aficionados on the way to Clearwater Beach Monday afternoon had the best view of the colorful mural erected by workers, who looked like mountain climbers as they hung from ropes above the multi-story tent, which is located at the intersection of Court Street and S Garden Avenue.
The draping, which covers both the eastern and western sides of the tent, has a multi-hued design that appears to contain the letters K, S and W (letters the church uses as an acronym for "Keep Scientology Working"), plus sketches of water, a sun and portions of a bridge. Near the top are the words "The Golden Age of Tech," a reference to Scientology's growing use of technology in recent years.
A church spokesman did not return a phone call and email requesting comment and more detail about what the mural represents.
The church erected the tent in August for a planned Nov. 8-9 gathering of the International Association of Scientologists. But minutes after the church submitted an application for a city special events permit for that date, it withdrew the request and hasn't submitted anything else.
Normally held in England, the IAS gathering this year was moved to Clearwater, the church's spiritual headquarters, possibly because the church's long-delayed Flag Building is expected to officially open soon. The dedication of the Flag Building, which has cost the church around $145 million to build and occupies an entire city block, was originally tentatively scheduled for Oct. 6, but later delayed.
Many church observers and some in city government suspect that the church plans to combine the two events and hold them within the next few weeks. The church has remained silent.
City officials were unaware that the mural was being installed until asked about it by the Tampa Bay Times.
Complete article: http://www.tampabay.com/news/scient...ts-giant-mural-in-downtown-clearwater/2149622
(Can't watch that video and NOT cringe throughout).
,
