Special magistrate orders compliance, deadlines and daily fines in 14 Greenacres code-enforcement cases

City of Greenacres Special Magistrate Amity Barnard issued compliance orders or findings of fact in 14 code-enforcement matters at a January 2025 hearing, directing property owners to correct violations such as unpermitted structures, missing or removed landscape trees, open storage and life-safety deficiencies and setting deadlines and daily fines for noncompliance.

The cases matter to nearby residents and commercial tenants because several involve life-safety fire-code items and others affect neighborhood appearance and stormwater/landscape plans. The magistrate repeatedly set compliance periods and warned owners that repeated violations could trigger steeper enforcement.

Barnard opened the session by swearing witnesses and reviewing procedure. City officers presented each case with supporting affidavits, certified-mail receipts and photographs; in many cases the respondent was not present and the magistrate entered the city's evidence and issued orders based on that record.

Major life-safety and code decisions

- Crown Plaza (6412 Melaleuca Lane): Jay Robinson, code enforcement supervisor, told the magistrate the property had multiple outstanding violations including fire-code inspection failures and an unpermitted soundproof structure. Barnard ordered compliance with the listed code sections within 60 days or assessment of a $100 daily fine; the magistrate also issued a finding of fact for one violation the city said had already been corrected. Robinson noted the fire-rescue inspection and repeated that permits and passing inspections would be required to clear the violations.

- 4931 South Military Trail: Code officer Michael McGee described exterior deterioration at the site and outstanding pressure-wash/painting and striping work. Barnard required compliance within 60 days or a $100 daily fine.

- 345 Springs Avenue (unpermitted structure): Officer Jerry Bernal said a permit application had been submitted but no final action had occurred. Barnard ordered the owner to remove the unpermitted pergola/patio structure within 45 days or face a $100-per-day fine; the magistrate clarified the owner must obtain a demolition permit to proceed.

Other ordered compliance and outcomes (summary)

- 6752 Forest Hill Blvd., Magnificent Recovery LLC (case 10Dash24Dash10833): Bernal sought a finding of fact for repeatedly closed shutters; the magistrate found a violation of the cited code section and entered a finding of fact related to the shutter closure (no respondent present).

- Buttonwood Plaza (3016 South Drive Road, RevaMed) (11Dash24Dash847): Bernal reported RevaMed had just received paperwork to schedule a life-safety inspection. The magistrate ordered compliance within 30 days or $100 per day.

- 252 Jackson Avenue (122410885): Bernal said two of three unregistered vehicles had been removed and one remained in the carport without license and registration. Barnard ordered compliance within 30 days or $100 per day.

- Family Dollar (5055, case 122410902): Bernal said exterior maintenance and an overnight tractor-trailer had been addressed but not by the notice deadline. The magistrate issued an order and a finding of fact noting the respondent had come into compliance but missed the original compliance date.

- 6412 Melaleuca Lane (Crown Plaza) (4Dash23Dash9772): as noted above, multiple code and fire-related items required correction within 60 days or $100/day; one item was found already complied with and recorded as such.

- 684 Rome Court (5Dash24Dash10392): Xavier Morales presented property-maintenance violations at a vacant house (overgrown lawn, driveway cleaning, mailbox and doors). Barnard ordered compliance within 30 days or $100 per day.

- 6250 Lake Worth Road (8Dash24Dash10680): Morales said several trees and shrubs had been removed without a city permit and the monument sign needed maintenance. The magistrate ordered corrected landscaping and sign maintenance within 30 days or $100 per day.

- Estates HOA (case 8Dash24Dash10746): planning staff Gianni Gallier told the magistrate that six live oak trees shown on the approved landscape plan were missing. Barnard ordered the HOA to obtain required permits and complete replanting within 90 days or be assessed $100 per day.

- Catalina Estates properties (cases 8Dash24Dash10748 and 8Dash24Dash10750): Morales reported the missing/incorrectly installed trees at 450 Catalina Way and 45 Catalina Way respectively; in one instance the trees were planted but the planting permit was not pulled. Magistrate set 90-day compliance windows and daily fines (one case at $50 per day, one at $50 per day after 90 days) consistent with the city's requests.

- 610 Jackson Avenue (9Dash24Dash10802): Bernal said open storage of appliances and bins remained in a carport after other debris was cleared. Barnard ordered removal within 30 days or a $100 daily fine.

Orders, enforcement mechanics and owner responses

Magistrate Barnard repeatedly entered the city's composite exhibit 1 (documents, affidavits and photos) without objection and based findings and orders on those records where respondents were absent. When owners or representatives appeared, the magistrate allowed short statements and sometimes extended the standard compliance timeline where the owner demonstrated active efforts.

Shamshad Begum, who identified herself as the owner of Crowne Plaza LLC, spoke at length about staffing, contractor delays and efforts to hire landscapers. Begum told the magistrate, "I tried my best to comply with all the compliance for landscape," and said she had been working to remedy the items despite contractor and personal challenges. The magistrate emphasized that life-safety items (fire-code failures and required permits) would remain subject to a 60-day deadline but invited continued communication with code staff if extraordinary delays occurred.

Several property representatives said they had initiated permit applications or contracted vendors. Planning staff advised that replanting large specimen trees requires a landscape permit and inspection and that the city typically turns around a complete application within a few days to a few weeks.

Votes at a glance (magistrate orders and outcomes)

- Case 10Dash24Dash10833 (6752 Forest Hill Blvd., Magnificent Recovery LLC): Finding of fact entered for shutter closure violation; respondent absent. - Case 11Dash24Dash0847 (3016 South Drive Road, RevaMed): Compliance within 30 days or $100/day; respondent represented by Carla Garcia (RevaMed) had begun scheduling the life-safety inspection. - Case 11Dash24Dash10849: Case marked complied; removed from agenda. - Case 12Dash24Dash10885 (252 Jackson Ave.): One unregistered vehicle remains; comply within 30 days or $100/day. - Case 12Dash24Dash10902 (Family Dollar, 5055): Finding of fact; city recorded compliance after the notice date; order issued. - Case 12Dash24Dash10940 (4931 S. Military Trail): Outstanding exterior cleaning/striping and repainting; comply within 60 days or $100/day. - Case 4Dash23Dash9772 (6412 Melaleuca Ln., Crown Plaza): Multiple violations including fire-code items; comply within 60 days or $100/day; one violation recorded as complied. - Case 4Dash24Dash10376 (345 Springs Ave., unpermitted pergola): Remove structure within 45 days or $100/day; owner instructed to obtain demolition permit if needed. - Case 5Dash24Dash10392 (684 Rome Ct.): Vacant-property maintenance; comply within 30 days or $100/day. - Case 8Dash24Dash10680 (6250 Lake Worth Rd.): Tree removal without permit and monument sign maintenance; comply within 30 days or $100/day. - Case 8Dash24Dash10746 (Estates HOA): Six missing live oaks on approved plan; comply within 90 days or $100/day; replants require landscape permit and inspection. - Case 8Dash24Dash10748 (450 Catalina Way, Catalina Estates): Trees planted but no permit pulled; comply within 90 days or $50/day. - Case 8Dash24Dash10750 (45 Catalina Way): Missing trees inconsistent with the landscape plan; comply within 90 days or $50/day. - Case 9Dash24Dash10802 (610 Jackson Ave., Holy Medina LLC): Open storage in carport (appliances/bins) ordered removed within 30 days or $100/day.

What happens next

Magistrate Barnard closed the hearing after entering the city's exhibits, issuing the orders summarized above and reminding respondents that fines begin to accrue on the day after a compliance deadline unless the city receives written notice of ongoing, documented efforts that justify an extension. Code officers and planning staff told the magistrate they will perform reinspections and will file affidavits of compliance when violations are cured.

The hearing record shows repeated reliance on certified-mail service and posted notices; many respondents were not present and the magistrate relied on the written record in those instances. Residents and property managers who raised operational or scheduling difficulties were told to keep code staff apprised so the magistrate could consider extensions where warranted.