Escondido hearing denies appeal of notice to abate unpermitted units; board upholds code officer findings

The Escondido Hearing Board voted 5-0 to deny an appeal of an amended notice and order to abate a public nuisance tied to a mixed-use property that the city says contains five unpermitted residential units.

The ruling, framed by a motion to adopt Resolution No. 202401 to deny the appeal, keeps in place a city finding that the property at the North Beach/Valley Parkway corner includes unpermitted conversions and multiple code violations the city says must be corrected or permitted.

The appellant, Tony Straub, identified himself as a managing member and shareholder of PRLFG LLC and said the property was purchased “about 3 years ago” and that he and partners cleaned and rehabilitated it for tenants. Straub told the board he believes the code officer, identified in the record as Steven Jacobson, “went on a campaign against the property” and that staff failed to follow procedural steps required by the city’s property-maintenance rules when issuing the notice.

Straub said the October 31, 2024 notice listed 16 violations and that items 1 and 2 (alleged unpermitted units and related zoning/permit…