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Board orders removal or correction of hazardous tree at 281 Plymouth Street; owners given 30 days
Summary
Inspectors declared a Chinaberry tree hazardous at a vacant home on Plymouth Street. The city asked the board to find the owners in violation; the board ordered compliance within 30 days and set a $100-per-day fine for ongoing violation, plus $410 in administrative costs.
The Safety Harbor Code Enforcement Board on March 19 found property owners Julia Y. Santos and Joanna Alejo in violation of the Land Development Code after city staff declared a Chinaberry tree at 281 Plymouth Street hazardous and required mitigation.
The board’s decision follows an arborist inspection that documented damaged roots and a tree leaning toward neighboring townhomes. The board ordered the owners to remedy the hazardous tree condition within 30 days or face daily fines; the board also awarded the city $410 in administrative costs.
Paul Bushey, community compliance officer, said he and city arborist James Ryan observed lifting roots and a lean that created a risk to adjacent properties. “The Chinaberry tree in question…the roots are lifting…and the tree [is] leaning towards the town homes,” Bushey said while presenting photographs and mailed notices. The city told the board the property had been vacant, that prior notices had not produced a response, and that staff lacked a working phone number for the owners.
Board members raised public-safety concerns. Member Jeff Dahl called the tree “a fairly significant hazard in the neighborhood,” and several members said the potential risk to neighboring residences justified an accelerated compliance timeline. City staff recommended 30 days to remedy the violation; Myers moved that the respondents have 30 days to comply and that a $100-per-day civil penalty be imposed for continued violation, and the board voted 7–0 in favor.
Because no respondents appeared, the board noted the city had mailed notices to the owners and posted required hearing notices. The city indicated it had attempted multiple contacts and had not received substantive responses. The board’s order requires the owners to remove or otherwise remediate the hazardous tree within 30 days of the hearing date; if they do not, the $100-per-day fine will begin to accrue. The board retained jurisdiction for enforcement but confirmed that staff may pursue remedies allowed by code if compliance is not achieved.
The board’s formal order and the evidence packet (photographs, mailed notices and arborist’s hazardous-tree letter) will be reduced to writing and mailed to the property owners.
