Cooper City special magistrate reduces two fines, sets deadlines and continues multiple building-code cases

A Cooper City special magistrate on Aug. 6, 2025 reduced monetary penalties in two permit-related code cases, certified fines in two others and continued multiple building-code enforcement matters for follow-up, officials and property representatives said.

The special magistrate presided over the Building Department violation docket and issued a mix of orders that included a conditional reduction to $2,000 in a sign-permit case, an extended payment deadline in a certificate-of-occupancy matter, and multiple continuances to allow the building department or outside engineers to finish inspections and reports.

The most immediate ruling involved a sign-permit violation at 2721 N. Hyattis Road in Cooper City (case EEN17-0041). The special magistrate granted a reduction of the accumulated fine to $2,000, including administrative and recording costs, on the condition it be paid within 30 days. "I'm going to reduce it down to $2,000," the special magistrate said; the order states that if the amount is not paid by Sept. 5, 2025, the full certified fine will be reinstated. The property manager, Sean Whiting, identified himself as the Kimco Realty property manager for the shopping center; tenant Jay Brea, who operates Bogart's American Kitchen at the address, told the magistrate he considered the problem a paperwork error and asked for leniency.

In another financial ruling (case EN23-0013), Edgar Parra, acting as power of attorney for the owner of 9620 Sterling Road Unit 110, sought reduction for fines that accumulated around a missing permit for a tenant operation identified as Grace Beauty. The magistrate applied a 75% reduction under ordinance guidelines and set a final payment date of Jan. 30, 2026; partial payments were allowed so long as the full reduced amount is paid by that date. "If it's not paid by that date, then the full amount of the fine will be reinstated," the special magistrate said.

The magistrate certified another fine and left the matter on the docket in at least two active noncompliance cases. Sunshine Gasoline at 11173 Sheridan Street was cited for failing to obtain an updated Cooper City business tax receipt required by city ordinance; Berkshire Fire Rescue Fire Prevention Lieutenant Orlando Hurtado testified the business had not complied, and the magistrate certified a $250 fine. In a separate commercial-interior case at 9630 Sterling Road (tenant Cooper Square/Cargo Coffee, case EEN20-453), the magistrate said no permit applications had been submitted and noted repeated compliance-date resets; the magistrate indicated certification of the fine because the business had not achieved compliance.

Several cases were continued to allow for inspections, final permits or engineering reports. Mark Young, Cooper City's chief structural inspector, told the magistrate that Baffey Woods Condominium (case EEN20452) had submitted balcony repair reports but was pending final Building Safety Inspection Program (BSIP) structural and electrical reports; that case was continued to October and staff will remove it from the docket if the reports arrive. A fire-damaged property at 3509 Bark Way (case listed on the docket as an unsafe-structure matter) has an issued demolition permit and needs a final sign-off; the magistrate continued that case to September pending the final inspection. Cases involving alleged unpermitted pool and deck work (case EN25-0017) and a disputed compacted-gravel hard-surface area in an easement were also continued to September for building-department follow-up.

At least one enforcement matter was closed on the spot: a commercial property operating as Morgard Montero LLC (2940 Solano Ave.) had previously been cited but the magistrate recorded that the violation was complied with and the case was closed.

The magistrate repeatedly emphasized that city notices and statutory procedures determine which party is ultimately responsible for fines. In the sign-permit case the magistrate said notices were mailed to the property owner on file and that owners, not tenants, commonly receive such notices under the city's enforcement process. Property representatives asked for payment flexibility in several matters; the magistrate allowed payment plans or deferred-payment deadlines in the two reduction rulings so long as the reduced amounts are paid by the court-ordered date.

The special magistrate adjourned the docket after giving staff directions to prepare written orders and to remove or reschedule cases from the docket once compliance documents arrive.