Bay County finds illegal towing activity and fence-height violations at two adjacent parcels; orders removal of towing equipment

Bay County's special magistrate found two adjacent properties — 2728 East Thirteenth Street and 1234 Northeast Avenue in the Cedar Grove area — in violation of local land-development rules and ordered removal of equipment related to towing, repossession or vehicle storage within 10 days, citing evidence of an ongoing towing/recovery operation and fence-height violations.

Robert Clarkson, a Bay County code enforcement investigator, testified that he and other staff documented an assembled fence exceeding allowable heights, a gate left open exposing an RV and other debris, frequent tow trucks and vehicle-related equipment, and what he described as activity consistent with a towing or recovery business. "At this point, I would would say yes because, you know, there's car coming and going in tow trucks. So he's obviously operating a form of business on this lot," Clarkson said.

Clarkson introduced prior…