Special magistrate continues Lakeville case, confirms fines in multiple Pembroke Park code hearings

Special Magistrate Harry Hippler on April 16, 2025 continued a major code‑compliance matter involving air‑conditioning work at the Lakeville Apartments and issued or confirmed fines and compliance deadlines in more than a dozen other cases heard at Pembroke Park Town Hall.

The magistrate continued the Lakeville Apartments case (case 8786) for 60 days rather than confirm a $20,150 lien, saying the per‑day fine would continue to accrue in the meantime. The town and the property’s representatives told the magistrate they expect plan review and inspections to move the matter toward compliance.

Why it matters: the special magistrate’s orders either confirm civil fines or give owners a set period to obtain permits, finish inspections and close permits; those outcomes can produce liens, daily penalties and administrative costs that affect owners and tenants. The hearing covered repeated violations such as work done without permits, business tax receipt lapses and unpermitted electrical or mechanical installations.

The Lakeville Apartments matter

The town presented case 8786, saying a final order previously entered because the property remained noncompliant. The town asked the magistrate to confirm a $20,150 fine tied to earlier orders and continuing violations. Counsel for the property objected to confirmation while permitting and inspections remained unresolved, arguing delays had been caused by back‑and‑forth plan‑review comments.

Brian Sherman, assistant town attorney, told the magistrate there are “applicable statutes and procedures that are in place” for using private inspectors if the building official approves that process. Jeffrey Lewis, the town’s building manager, said the project had just submitted mechanical data sheets and that "most likely a week by the time we get the comments back" for plan‑review results that would let inspections be scheduled.

Magistrate Hippler said he would not confirm the lien immediately and instead continued the case 60 days, noting that accrual of the daily penalty would not stop during that period. "The $3.50 per day will continue to run," Hippler said, and directed that the continuation be reflected in the new order so the amount continues to accrue until compliance or a future mitigation hearing.

Votes at a glance (selected cases)

- Case 8786 (Lakeville Apartments, 2300–2490 S. Park Rd.): continued 60 days; accrued per diem to continue ($3.50/day); administrative fee to remain in order (confirmed continuance; mitigation may be requested after compliance). - Case 9978 (2099 S. Park Rd., tenant Evolution District LLC): confirmed fine $6,600; per diem $2.50/day thereafter; $100 administrative fee. - Case 10368 (2727 S. Park Rd., tenant Luke Fuel LLC): continued 60 days to allow inspector verification and follow‑up; owner to schedule inspection with code officer. - Case 10366 (2400 Commerce Center Way, DCT/CE-related): repeat rack installation violation; 60 days to comply or $3.50/day thereafter; $100 administrative fee. - Case 9596 (2542 SW 30th Ave., Meatbar Holdings LLC): confirmed fine (system confusion resolved during hearing) — magistrate confirmed the fine amount on the record at $14,450 for the cited violations; mitigation possible after compliance and permit closure. - Case 9485 (2538 SW 30th Ave., Bar Holding LLC): confirmed fine $19,350; mitigation possible after compliance. - Case 10562 (2430 Charles Rd., Bam Mobile Home LLC): 60 days to comply; $2.50/day thereafter; $100 administrative fee. - Case 10381 (3120 Carolina St.): demolition of pool deck without permit — 90 days to comply or $100/day thereafter; $100 administrative fee. - Case 10407 (2954 SW 30th Ave., Lazy Chef restaurant equipment): 90 days to comply or $3.50/day thereafter; $100 administrative fee. - Case 10517 (3100 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd., Gosling family): immediate electrical hazard; 30 days to comply or $100/day thereafter; $100 administrative fee. - Case 10615 (3125 John P. Kersey Dr., tenant Sherman Williams): repeated violations for banners/racking; 90 days to comply or $3.50/day thereafter; $100 administrative fee. - Case 10669 (2940 Country Club Ln., Hallandale Retail LLC): 30 days to obtain business tax receipt/certificate of use or $2.50/day thereafter; $100 administrative fee. - Case 10675 (3050 Country Club Ln., Galore Aesthetic Beauty Lounge): repeated business tax‑receipt violation; 30 days to comply or $3.50/day thereafter; $100 administrative fee. - Case 6720 (3140 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd., Unit 520): confirmed fine $12,000; 90 days to comply; $100/day thereafter. - Case 7001 (Bam MHC, mitigation request): town and respondent agreed to a mitigation payment of $1,560 payable within 30 days; if not paid the original amount reverts. - Case 9222 (2601 Lyons Lane, Topps Properties LLC): attorney requested and magistrate granted a continuance of 60 days (case will return to the docket then). - Case 103960 (Carolina St., Parcel F LLC): confirmed fine $6,600; $2.50/day thereafter. - Case 90976 (2311 SW 30th Ct., Darren Rubneck): amended final order granting 90 additional days from the date of amendment; parties agreed on approach in the hearing.

What magistrate and staff emphasized

Magistrate Hippler repeatedly told owners that continuances were intended to produce compliance rather than simply delay enforcement, and he warned that fines continue to accrue during continuances. He urged owners and their contractors to coordinate with the building department and with Code Officer Jean Gustin and to return with permit closures and inspection records where possible. Assistant Town Attorney Brian Sherman advised parties that private inspectors can be used only under approved procedures and at the discretion of the building official.

Selected direct quotes

"We would object to the confirmation of the fine," said the attorney for the Lakeville property, arguing the permit review process had caused delay.

"Most likely a week by the time we get the comments back," said Jeffrey Lewis, the town building manager, describing the expected timing for plan‑review comments that would allow inspections to be scheduled.

"The $3.50 per day will continue to run," Special Magistrate Harry Hippler said when he continued the Lakeville case 60 days, and he instructed the town to reflect the accrual in the new order.

Context and next steps

Most owners were granted a fixed interval to correct violations (commonly 30, 60 or 90 days) or had fines confirmed; several cases were explicitly left open for mitigation requests after permit closure. Owners who achieve compliance may petition the magistrate or staff later for mitigation or reduction of assessed fines. Several matters were continued to allow coordination between owners, contractors and the town’s building staff for inspections and plan corrections.

The magistrate closed the session after handling the day’s docket; a number of case files will return to a future hearing as specified in the orders.

Ending

Orders and continuance details will be mailed or provided to respondents per the magistrate’s direction; owners who obtain permit final‑inspections or pay approved mitigation amounts will be able to seek mitigation at a future hearing.