Fort Pierce special magistrate finds nuisance conditions in multiple lot‑clearing cases, orders abatement and fines

Special Magistrate Jennifer Peschke on Aug. 6 found nuisance conditions at multiple Fort Pierce properties and ordered owners to abate overgrowth, trim or lift trees, and remove debris within deadlines or face fines and city abatement.

The hearing, convened by the City of Fort Pierce Code Enforcement Division, resulted in abatement orders for residential and vacant lots across Avenue F and South 20th Street and a separate parking citation at JC Park. The magistrate ordered fines of $100 per day for each day a violation continues if owners fail to comply, and ruled that the city may abate the nuisance and assess the abatement costs against the property. Respondents have 30 days from the hearing to file an appeal of any order.

Why it matters: code‑enforcement orders can block building permits, lead to daily fines, and trigger city‑paid abatement costs charged back to property owners. At least one property owner said the violation was delaying a site permit and asked for more time to remove trees and clear the lot.

Most of the contested matters were lot‑clearing (nuisance/landscaping) cases under the city code cited in staff testimony as “24‑19 subsection 11, subsection a, subsection b.” Code enforcement officers presented photographs and notices showing overgrowth, trash and trees that staff said needed trimming or lifting to meet city landscaping standards. In the cases where respondents did not appear, the magistrate found the violations proven on the record and issued the standard 7‑day abatement order. In two adjacent lots owned by Youth and Family Behavioral Health Center…