Clearwater board orders abatement liens for dozens of overgrown, debris‑filled properties

Aug. 28, 2024 — The Municipal Code Enforcement Board on Wednesday approved a series of nuisance‑abatement orders for properties across Clearwater, finding owners in violation for overgrown vegetation, accumulation of junk and unmaintained rights of way and authorizing the city to abate and place liens if owners fail to comply. The board repeatedly granted five days for compliance after each order.

The actions covered more than two dozen addresses including 407 South Hillcrest Avenue; 1570 Eunice Lane; 1278 Bel Air Road; 1913 Coles Road; properties on North Betty Lane (1109 and 1115); 804 Fairmont Street; 1465 San Juan Court; 305 Pennsylvania Avenue; 917 Eldridge Street (two cases, lot clearing and inoperative vehicles); 111 South Corona Avenue; 1160 Grove Street; 1271 Franklin Street; 1242 Cleveland Street; and 210 Palm Island SW. Inspectors described recurring problems such as grass and seagras s overgrowing sidewalks and streets, piles of cinder blocks and broken appliances, fenced yards full of debris and, in some cases, inoperable vehicles and damaged structures.

"This is for a nuisance abatement. We have 1 violation here of code section 3‑15(o)(3)(b)(7) for overgrowth, and 3‑15(o)(3)(b)(8) for unmaintained right of way," said John Stevens, code compliance inspector, when introducing the board’s first lot‑clearing case, which concerned vegetation encroaching into the city gutter and across a sidewalk at 407 South Hillcrest Avenue.

Inspectors described a range of public‑safety and quality‑of‑life issues. At 1570 Eunice Lane, Dave Jensen said the rear yard contained piles of cinder blocks, broken fencing, and tree cuttings that had forced power crews to access the site through a neighbor’s yard. He warned of mosquito breeding where standing water had been reported. At 917 Eldridge Street, inspectors said a recent storm toppled a tree into a residence; crews observed inoperable vehicles and substantial trash in a fenced rear yard. In several cases inspectors reported that certified notices had been posted and mailed but property owners had not responded.

For each property the board adopted motions finding code violations and ordering respondents to correct the violations within five days of the board’s written order. Each motion also authorized the city to enter the property to abate the nuisance and charge the property owner the reasonable cost of abatement, which will become a lien if unpaid; the motions stated the city may foreclose or collect on the lien if costs remain unpaid three months after filing.

Board members moved and seconded the motions; when asked the board responded "Aye" and the motions carried. Where inspectors reported partial or intermittent cleanup, board members reiterated that continuing progress should be reported to the inspector and that the five‑day deadlines would be enforced unless staff documented clear, ongoing compliance efforts.

The orders reference city code sections cited by inspectors (for example, 3‑15(o)(3)(b)(7) and 3‑15(o)(3)(b)(8)) and follow the board’s standard nuisance‑abatement motion that authorizes city entry and lien placement when property owners do not correct violations.

The board handled the cases in a batch process that reflected the regular enforcement calendar: inspectors presented photographic evidence, explained mailing and posting attempts, and the board issued standard abatement orders. The board chair closed the agenda after the last item and adjourned the meeting.

Less urgent items on the same agenda included declarations of resolved sign violations and continued or withdrawn cases; those items were handled separately and are not included in this summary of nuisance abatement orders.