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Homeowner asks council for time to fund survey after deck enforcement notices
Summary
A Springfield resident asked the council to allow a one-year extension to raise funds to hire a surveyor after receiving city notices to remove a long-standing deck; she said the complaint originated from a social-media post and she disputes the violation.
Michelle Green, a Springfield homeowner, told the City Council on Sept. 15 she received city enforcement notices requiring removal of a deck that has stood for about 15 years. Green said she was told the city would not provide a surveyor to confirm property boundaries without documented proof of a violation and that the city threatened fines or demolition if she did not comply.
Green asked the council for a one-year extension so she could save to hire a licensed surveyor and to verify property lines. She said the enforcement action began after a neighbor reported a social-media post about a pool party that never occurred. Green said she has limited financial means and asked for fair treatment and time to resolve the matter.
Why it matters: Green said she faces enforcement that could require demolition of a longstanding structure and that the complaint stemmed from a neighbor dispute and social media; she asked for procedural fairness and an opportunity to verify property boundaries before demolition or fines are imposed.
Action taken: Council staff said the testimony would be forwarded to Councilor Mala Brown, chair of the Maintenance and Development subcommittee. No formal council vote was taken at the Sept. 15 meeting.
Ending: Green said she wants to resolve the issue in good faith and asked the council to forward her testimony and to allow time to obtain a surveyor.
