Council presses enforcement on unpermitted temporary structure at car lot; planner to review permanent‑structure eligibility

Dundee councilors directed staff to review and enforce the city’s rules after an unpermitted tent and other structures appeared at a local car lot.

Staff reported that a tent-like, temporary structure was erected without prior permit, and the city delivered initial notice and fines under land‑use and sign code provisions. The council discussed fines (which the city may levy daily at its discretion) and enforcement strategy: staff recommended notifying the property owner, offering an application pathway for a temporary permit that would begin the 90‑day clock, and enforcing removal if the structure could not qualify as a permanent building.

Councilors asked planning staff to perform a formal review of the structure against permanent‑structure standards rather than provide informal guidance. Several councilors urged the city to act promptly and to communicate a clear timeline to the property owner; a suggested two‑week deadline for further action was discussed.

Staff also emphasized a compliance‑first enforcement philosophy — prioritizing getting the structure into compliance — while noting that, if the owner fails to remove the structure after notice, the city can abate the structure and charge abatement costs. Councilors directed staff to return with a formal determination of whether the structure could be permitted permanently and to proceed with enforcement if it does not qualify.