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Magistrate orders Decker to remove items and clear county right-of-way; compliance deadline set
Summary
Martin County found multiple violations at a Stuart property where vehicles, an RV and other items were stored on county right-of-way; the owner was ordered to comply by Aug. 29 and $575 in investigative costs awarded.
The Martin County magistrate found on July 16 that items including vehicles, an RV and other equipment were stored on county right-of-way at 3267 Southeast Birch Avenue in Stuart and ordered the owner to bring the property into compliance by Aug. 29, 2025.
Investigator Maria Espaillat testified she inspected the property on May 13 and observed vehicles, an RV and trailers located on the county right-of-way as well as trash and a damaged fence. She said many items photographed during inspections were on county right-of-way and that public-works staff had opened a separate case for items and vehicles on the right-of-way. County exhibits 2–6 and subsequent photos were admitted.
Espaillat told the magistrate she initially cited accessory-structure and nuisance code sections and later amended the notice to include additional citations after follow-up inspections. The owner did not appear; the magistrate asked the county to proceed and accepted exhibits 1–33.
Order Based on the evidence, the magistrate ordered the owner to correct violations by Aug. 29, 2025, and awarded $575 in investigative costs to Martin County. The magistrate noted that items on county right-of-way fall under public-works jurisdiction and that the county had opened a separate public-works case for right-of-way items.
Next steps The county will pursue compliance for the accessory-structure, overgrowth and nuisance citations and coordinate with public works on items located in the right-of-way.
