Special magistrate confirms six-figure fines for two Pembroke Park properties, urges meeting with fire officials

The Town of Pembroke Park special magistrate confirmed civil fines against Pembroke Crown LLC for two commercial properties after hearing testimony that the properties remain out of compliance.

Chief Code Compliance Officer Jocelyn Ramirez told the special magistrate that the town moved to confirm a $177,100 fine for 2649 South Park Lane (case 8288) and a $374,100 fine for 2565 South Park Lane (case 7734) because both properties still lacked required permits and business tax receipts. Special Magistrate Andre McKinney said, “Based on the testimony and evidence presented, there is substantial competent evidence to support the town’s position to confirm the fines.”

The matter drew extended testimony from attorney Jeremy Shear, who represents the property owner, and from a property representative who described years of attempts to obtain permits and plan approvals. Shear said his client removed a mezzanine, installed new racks and was completing electrical permits at 2649 South Park Lane, but that the larger problem at 2565 South Park Lane is a requirement from the fire department for an internal fire corridor.

Attorney Jeremy Shear said the corridor requirement would “result in a loss of 25% of the space and essentially render the economic value of the property to nil,” and described multiple architects, engineers and a retired fire marshal having attempted plans over two years without success. A property representative told the magistrate the owner had lost tenants while awaiting approvals and that the project has been repeatedly delayed: “We’ve lost four tenants,” the representative said.

Town staff and the property’s building manager, Jeffrey Lewis, said the town would facilitate further coordination with the fire inspector and Broward County or the Broward Sheriff’s Office fire prevention division to determine whether an alternative solution exists. Lewis told the magistrate the town could “set up a meeting with the current fire inspector” and escalate the discussion to the county office.

McKinney emphasized the limited scope of the hearing — whether the violation occurred — and confirmed the fines while urging the parties to continue working toward a technical resolution. He also reminded the property representatives that they may apply for abatement once violations are corrected, and that an abatement application would be considered in mitigation.

The magistrate’s orders confirm the fines and require the respondents to correct violations; failure to correct them will lead to continued per‑diem accrual and assessment of the $100 administrative hearing fee. The magistrate’s oral pronouncements left open the procedural next step of technical appeals to fire‑safety interpretations, which, town staff said, fall under the Florida Fire Prevention Code and the independent authority of the fire marshal rather than the town.