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Fort Pierce special magistrate orders repairs, fines and abatement steps across dozens of code-enforcement cases
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Summary
A special magistrate found multiple properties in Fort Pierce out of compliance with city codes on Sept. 16, ordering repairs, time-limited compliance and daily fines for continued violations; several lot-clearing and nuisance orders gave owners seven days to comply.
Special Magistrate Heather De Bevec of the City of Fort Pierce on Sept. 16 found multiple properties in violation of local codes and issued orders ranging from short repair deadlines to city abatement and daily fines.
The hearing covered dozens of enforcement items, including parking citations, sign maintenance, vacant-building board-ups and numerous lot‑clearing and nuisance cases. Magistrate De Bevec ordered timelines for compliance (commonly seven or 30 days) and warned that failure to meet deadlines would trigger daily fines or city abatement actions assessed to property owners.
Why this matters: These routine enforcement hearings direct property owners to correct public‑safety and neighborhood‑maintenance problems and establish the city’s authority to abate nuisances and recover costs if owners do not act.
Key outcomes (selected): - 1003 Egret Avenue (CE2025-308): Owners Gisa Martinez and Sujay Seda were ordered to repair a deteriorated fence within 30 days; failure to comply will result in a $100-per-day fine. The magistrate found a violation of IPMC 302.7 (accessory structures) and noted the owners were already replacing deteriorated panels.
- 100 Block of Melody Lane (PK2025-279): A parking citation for a Friday Fest event was sustained. Owner Simone Sharmalee Cito was assessed $78; nonpayment in 15 days will forward the citation to the county court system.
- 1010 Seaway Drive (CE2025-237): A damaged sign must be repaired or replaced and any required permits obtained within 30 days; continued noncompliance carries a $250-per-day fine.
- Multiple lot‑clearing / nuisance cases (LTCL and NUIS series): For addresses including 515 N. Eighth St. (LTCL2025-268), 1105 N. 20th St. (LTCL2025-144), 2634 Mohawk Ave. (NUIS2025-20), and several South US Highway 1 and North 20th Street parcels, the court found nuisance conditions that “pose a threat to the public health, safety, and welfare.” Typical orders gave owners seven days (some 10 days for board‑up cases) to cut grass, trim trees and remove debris; the city reserved the right to abate and charge costs to the property. Fines for continued violations were set at $100 per day unless otherwise stated.
City evidence and procedure: Code officers repeatedly presented dated photographs and copies of notices of violation as the city’s composite exhibit 1. For cases required by statute, staff described the city’s process for certified mailing and posting notices at City Hall and at the property prior to hearings.
What the orders require: Where the city found hazardous or deteriorated conditions, magistrate orders commonly required either (a) specific repairs within the stated time, or (b) re‑securing openings for vacant buildings (e.g., painted exterior grade plywood) and removal of trash and landscape debris. Several orders included the explicit statement that the city would abate the nuisance and assess the cost to the property if owners did not comply, and that owners have 30 days to appeal the orders.
A longer-debated item (Gateway Plaza) and a Massey hearing for a short‑term rental fine reduction were handled separately given their extended testimony and are reported independently.
The hearing continued through a long docket of cases and was adjourned after the city administrator explained the notice and posting procedure for hearing service.
