Wellington special magistrate orders multiple property fixes, most given Nov. 20 deadline

Wellington, Fla. — The Village of Wellington’s special magistrate on Oct. 16 found several property owners and managers in violation of local land-development and property-maintenance rules and set compliance deadlines, fines and cost assessments.

The magistrate issued written orders after hearing testimony from village code officers and property representatives. Most respondents were given until Nov. 20, 2025, to correct violations such as missing foundation plants, stained roofs and failing landscaping; many orders carry an assessed administrative cost (typically $12.22–$13.65) and a possible fine “not to exceed $25 per day” for each continuing violation. The magistrate also scheduled fine-certification hearings for Dec. 11, 2025, for cases that remain unresolved.

Why it matters: The decisions reinforce the Village of Wellington’s enforcement of its Land Development Regulations and property-maintenance codes, and the Nov. 20 deadline and Dec. 11 follow-up date create short windows for property owners to address compliance or face escalating penalties.

Most cases were routine code-enforcement matters. The magistrate addressed missing foundation shrubs and other front-plane landscaping in several single-family cases, ordered roof/trim cleaning or repair in a number of properties, and extended cease-and-desist orders for repeat or unaddressed violations. Two items drew special attention: a repeat violation involving a trailer that had been the subject of a prior order and a pool/enclosure matter the magistrate characterized as a life-safety risk.

Several respondents described steps they had taken or planned to take. Christina Stephanie Grinnell, a property respondent, told the magistrate she planned to add plantings: “I need to put shrubs to the right,” she said at the hearing. In another matter, a property manager, Joseph (Yosef) Schneider, said he had reported an unauthorized Airbnb listing as fraudulent and asked the village for time while Airbnb investigates.

The magistrate’s written-style findings were read into the record repeatedly in the hearing and typically followed this pattern: the code officer presented the notice of violation, the respondent (or a representative) spoke, and the magistrate ruled, setting a compliance date, a possible per‑day fine and a modest cost assessment. For example, in the Johnson/Grinnell matter (case NOHCC2655-2025) the magistrate found a violation of Wellington Land Development Regulation section 7.8.2.a–g, ordered correction by Nov. 20, assessed $13.65 in costs and entered a five-year cease-and-desist order.

Votes at a glance - NOHCC2655-2025 (Jeffrey & Christina Grinnell, 15680 Meadowood/ Middlewood Drive): Found in violation of Wellington Land Development Regulation §7.8.2.a–g for missing foundation plants; deadline Nov. 20, 2025; costs $13.65; possible fine up to $25/day; 5-year cease-and-desist order entered. (Special Magistrate ruling entered into record.) - NOHCC2672025 (Bruce J. Toomin, 752 Lake Wellington Drive): Found in violation of Wellington Land Development Regulation §7.8.2.a–g for missing foundation plants; deadline Nov. 20, 2025; costs $12.22; possible fine up to $25/day; 5-year cease-and-desist order entered. (Ruling entered.) - NOHCC43352024 (Jean & Vania Jules Mathurin, 14628 Autumn Ave): Found in violation of Wellington LDR §7.8.2.a–g (missing shrubs/groundcover); deadline Nov. 20, 2025; costs $12.22; possible fine up to $25/day; 5-year cease-and-desist order entered. - NOHCC39522025 (Takeoff Properties LLC, 15465 Takeoff Place) — vacation-rental allegation: Hearing continued 30 days for village to verify Airbnb listing removal; magistrate reserved right to impose severe penalties if listing is active and evidence shows short‑term rentals occurred; advised property manager to copy village on communications with Airbnb. - NOHCC33882025 (Mary J. Collins, 888 Brightwood Way): Found in violation of maintenance and landscape codes (stained trim, dead fronds); deadline Nov. 20, 2025; costs $13.65; possible fine up to $25/day; 5-year cease-and-desist order entered. - NOHCC38922025 (TDA Enterprises LLC / 13484 Janquill Place) — vacation rental special-use permit: Application submitted but incomplete; magistrate found violation for operating without an approved special-use permit, gave until Nov. 20, 2025, to complete application and obtain permit or face a $300 penalty plus $100 per 30 days thereafter; $12.22 costs assessed. - NOHDashCCDash1046Dash2023 (Irene Douglas Revocable Trust, 13662 Collington Drive) — repeat trailer/storage violation: Magistrate found repeat violation of a prior order, assessed $50 per day commencing Aug. 15, 2025, continuing to accrue until corrected, and $45.57 in costs; cease-and-desist extended five years. - NOHCC5962025 (Yordani Díaz Hurtado / Rudder Cove): Violations for landscape maintenance and irrigation issues; deadline Nov. 20, 2025; costs $13.65; possible fine up to $25/day per violation; 5-year cease-and-desist order. - NOHCC12002025 (Mani G. Prasad / 13667 Columbine Ave): Roof and trim discoloration cited; deadline Nov. 20, 2025; costs $12.22; possible fine up to $25/day; 5-year cease-and-desist order entered. - NOHCC25322025 (Forest Club Property Owner Association / 703 Forest Club Drive): Commercial vehicles visible from public view cited; deadline Oct. 21, 2025 (shorter interval because vehicles are intermittent); costs $12.22; possible fine up to $25/day; 5-year cease-and-desist order entered. - NOHCC30082025 (Susie D. Jim Clayton/Sanders, 10464 Trainian Place): Roof and trim discoloration, missing mulch/landscape; deadline Nov. 20, 2025; costs $13.65; possible fine up to $25/day; 5-year cease-and-desist order entered. - NO8CC34002025 (Darlene Aliza, 1225 Stratford St): Missing foundation plants; deadline Nov. 20, 2025; costs $12.22; possible fine up to $25/day; 5-year cease-and-desist order entered. - NOHCC35842025 (Betsy & Jean Robert Caesar, 1531 Windcliffe Dr): Driveway/sidewalk staining, overgrown grass and tree stump issues; deadline Nov. 20, 2025; costs $13.65; possible fine up to $25/day per violation; 5-year cease-and-desist order entered. - NOHCC27702025 (Allen & Helen Norrack Family Trust, 17272 Gulf Pine Cir) — pool enclosure: Magistrate characterized the pool-and-enclosure condition as a life‑safety risk. A fine of $250 per day was imposed commencing Sept. 19, 2025, until the required repairs/enclosure are made; costs assessed $47.38; 5-year cease-and-desist order entered. - Fine certification follow-up (NOHCC53062024, Edward & Stephanie Santora): Magistrate imposed a $25-per-day per‑violation fine commencing Sept. 22, 2025, plus $34.43 in costs, for remaining, uncorrected landscape/hedge issues after partial compliance elsewhere on the property.

What happened next: The magistrate repeatedly warned respondents that if the village’s code-compliance staff do not receive timely corrective action or acceptable alternative plans, fines may be imposed at the fine-certification hearing(s) scheduled beginning Dec. 11, 2025. For those claiming confusion about ordinance text, planning and zoning staff advised property owners to bring replacement plans to Village building/planning staff for review or to submit formal alternative plans for approval.

The special magistrate delivered the rulings from the bench, reading standard language that sets the compliance date, potential per‑day fine, assessed administrative cost and an entry of a five‑year cease-and-desist order. That stay-or-fine cadence dominated the hearing: compliance window, modest administrative cost, then potential daily fines if not completed.

Looking ahead: Owners and managers who dispute the magistrate’s findings or who believe they require more time or interpretation of complex landscape standards may appeal the written order or submit alternative landscape plans to Planning & Zoning. Several respondents were told village staff would meet on-site to clarify where plantings or repairs are required. Cases not resolved by the Nov. 20 deadlines will be routed to the Dec. 11 fine-certification calendar.

— Special Magistrate (reading the order): “Based on the evidence and testimony presented, I find that the respondent is in violation of …”

Ending: The hearing concluded after the magistrate entered the orders. Property owners with questions were directed to contact the code-compliance officers listed on their notices and to submit alternative plans or proof of work before the Nov. 20 compliance window closed.