Coppell commission orders owner of 407 Greenway Court to seal exterior openings, secure gate within 10 days; follow-up hearing set

The Coppell Building and Standards Commission voted to continue its December 5, 2024 repair order for 407 Greenway Court and added a requirement that exterior openings be sealed and the backyard gate secured within 10 days of the order's entry.

Staff presented photos and permit records showing the owner had replaced roof decking, obtained a roof permit that passed inspection, drained and cleaned the pool and arranged pest treatments, but several exterior openings and a gate latch remained unsecured. Desiree, the commission's senior code officer, recommended continuing the original order and moving to the 60-day timeline so interior repairs could begin under a recently issued alteration permit.

The recommendation matters to neighbors and the commission because the property has been exposed to the elements and pests and an unsecured pool and open second-story window present safety risks. Commissioners and neighbors repeatedly emphasized the need for the structure to be boarded or otherwise secured while remodel work proceeds.

Desiree told the commission the owner had applied for a roof permit on Dec. 12, 2024; the roof passed inspection on Dec. 17, 2024, and an alteration permit was issued on the day of the meeting. Chief Building Official Steven Schubert said the issued alteration permit covers the planned interior work, window replacement and other items listed in the commission’s order, and that getting the structure habitable is the long-term solution to the rodent problem. Owner Keenan McCarty said contractors would begin work Monday and that he had ordered windows and planned to have a handyman relocate the lock on the fence.

Several neighbors said the timeline in December had not been met and urged the commission to set intermediate benchmarks with clear consequences. Patrick Bolden, a neighbor, asked McCarty to confirm he had funds to start work despite ongoing litigation with his insurer; McCarty said he was using funds already available and contractors had already begun some work.

After discussion the commission amended the original order to require the property owner, within 10 days of the commission's signed order, to seal exterior openings (including windows, eaves/soffits, dryer vents and other potential rodent penetrations) and to install and maintain a functioning lock on the backyard gate. The commission continued the remaining requirements of the December 5, 2024 order and set a show-cause hearing for April 3, 2025, to review progress. Commissioners said they would consider assessing fees or other sanctions if the owner failed to comply and instructed staff to notify the building official if work was incomplete before the follow-up date.

The commission recorded that the owner had completed the roof replacement, treated the property for pests and drained the pool, and that an alteration permit for the interior remodel had been issued. The commission emphasized staff will re-inspect and report noncompliance before any fines are sought.

The commission’s motion to continue the original order with the added 10-day sealing and gate requirement carried. The commission did not set daily fines at the meeting but the chair said staff would request sanctions if noncompliance continued.

A follow-up show-cause hearing is scheduled for April 3, 2025, and staff will re-inspect the property and report back to the commission.