Lake Elsinore board declares vacant Turnbull Avenue lot a public nuisance

At a special meeting, the Lake Elsinore Nuisance Abatement Board voted 3-0 to declare a vacant lot on Turnbull Avenue owned by Andrei Moskalchuk (APN 378-141-016) a public nuisance, following a staff report that the owner installed a fence, stored dirt and gravel, and lived in a travel trailer without required permits.

The board acted after a presentation by Fred Lopez, the city’s code enforcement manager, who said the case began on Sept. 12, 2023, and listed violations of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code. "My name is Fred Lopez. I am the code enforcement manager for the city of Lake Elsinore. And this case began on 09/12/2023," Lopez told the board in his summary of the file.

Lopez told the board staff found an unapproved wooden fence, imported dirt and gravel and, later, a travel trailer, generator, trucks and an assembled wooden stage on the parcel. He said the building department closed the owner’s application for lacking a planning application, and later deemed a resubmitted application incomplete. Multiple administrative citations were mailed; a cease-and-desist letter was posted and mailed April 7, 2025. Lopez said the owner was granted an extension to remove the stage and fifth-wheel trailer through May 30, 2025; the city denied further extension requests and proceeded with abatement steps, at which point the owner appealed to the board.

Owner’s appeal and neighborhood complaint

Owner Andrei Moskalchuk addressed the board through an interpreter. In an appeal statement he said he bought the parcel in May 2023 "with a goal of being a building a home for my family" and that he believed temporary RV living during construction was allowed. Moskalchuk said he encountered incorrect links and rejected applications and that engineers told him a sewer or septic system would be impossible on the parcel, which he said makes construction "practically impossible." He asked the board to allow his family to remain on the parcel until Jan. 31, 2026, asked that fines be reduced or cancelled and offered to maintain cleanliness and safety while vacating by that date.

Lopez also reported a neighboring complaint received April 29, 2025, alleging a strong sewage odor from the parcel and possible illegal discharge from the trailer; staff said that allegation remained unconfirmed because officers did not have access to the property.

Board discussion and vote

Board members asked staff about the period of no contact from the owner. Lopez said there was no contact between June 24, 2024, and March 25, 2025, and that because of that interruption and ongoing noncompliance the city referred the matter to the city prosecutor. Lopez said that if the owner fails to comply with the May 30 timeline the city will seek an abatement warrant through the courts to remove the violations.

After limited board comment and no further public speakers, a motion to declare the parcel a public nuisance was made and seconded. The board recorded a roll-call vote: Board member Peters voted aye, Board member Gray voted aye, and Board member Carroll voted aye, approving the finding 3-0. Lopez said all costs associated with the case, including staff time and attorney fees, will be billed to the property owner through the city’s cost recovery procedures.

What happens next

The board's finding allows the city to proceed with abatement steps and seek a court warrant if the owner does not remove the violations within the deadlines already issued. The owner’s appeal sought additional time and a reduction or cancellation of fines; the board did not grant those requests during the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Declare the vacant lot owned by Andrei Moskalchuk (APN 378-141-016) a public nuisance. Mover: Board member Peters. Second: Board member Carroll. Vote: Peters — yes; Gray — yes; Carroll — yes. Outcome: approved (3-0).

(Transcript excerpts and the city’s electronic case file were provided to the board at the meeting.)