Special magistrate cuts $1.7 million in code fines to $17,353 after new owner brings Pembroke Park property into compliance

On July 16, 2025, Pembroke Park’s special magistrate approved a 99% reduction of code enforcement fines tied to multiple cases at 2400 Southwest 30th Avenue, mitigating roughly $1,735,339 in accumulated fines down to $17,353.39 in a global settlement after the property owner brought the units into compliance.

The reduction matters because the fines stemmed from violations dating to 2020 and accumulated under a prior owner; the new owner, Yaniv Dresner, testified that he purchased the complex in November 2024, completed substantial repairs and permitting work, and asked the town to abate the outstanding liens.

Jeffrey Lewis, chief code compliance officer for the town of Pembroke Park, told the hearing the total original accrual across the listed cases was about $1,735,339 and that staff recommended an extraordinary mitigation given the rapid remediation under the new owner. “Typically, we can go up to 95%,” Lewis said; the town recommended a 99% reduction in this case because the owner completed the work in a far shorter time than the period over which the fines accrued.

Owner-partner Yaniv Dresner detailed the repair costs he incurred after buying the property. “We put a new roof…we have about $214,000 just for the roof,” Dresner said, adding later that the total invested to date — including roof, fire panel and sprinkler repair, contractor work to close violations, and engineering and architectural fees — was roughly $340,000 to $345,000. Dresner also said about $140,000 came from company funds and the rest from loans.

Special Master Andre McKinney said he found substantial and competent evidence to approve the town’s recommendation and announced the mitigated fine amount of $17,353.39. He ordered the amount paid within 90 days; if the mitigated payment is not made within that window, McKinney said, the original fines will be reinstated. The order includes the standard $100 administrative hearing cost.

The magistrate recorded that several of the underlying cases dated back to April 14, 2020, and that the last of the cited matters closed on March 26, 2025. McKinney described the situation as “an extreme circumstance” and noted that while mitigation to 95% is common in unusual cases, the town’s 99% recommendation was supported by the evidence presented.

Owner testimony and submitted invoices and permit records were accepted into the hearing record. The order sets the mitigated payment deadline and notes that failure to pay will restore the original lien amounts.