Bobcat Trail residents press North Port for action; officials cite limits while property is in foreclosure
Loading...
Summary
Residents and community leaders told the commission the Bobcat Trail golf course has deteriorated, creating safety and nuisance concerns; staff said code enforcement authority is limited while the property remains privately owned and in foreclosure, and the fire district said it had inspected and required repairs last year.
Multiple Bobcat Trail residents urged the City Commission on July 8 to take action after years of visible neglect at the neighborhood's former golf course, citing overgrown vegetation, vermin, unsecured buildings and fuel and fertilizer stored near homes.
Residents and community leaders described broken doors, open access to a deteriorating clubhouse and outbuildings that contain fuel and fertilizer. Richard Burke, president of the Bobcat Trail Homeowners Association, showed photos and said vegetation on parts of the course is taller than a golf cart and called it a public nuisance under municipal code. Steve Ball, chairman of the Bobcat Trail Community Development District, said the property has exposed fuel tanks and a fertilizer shed that were accessible and had been vandalized.
Commissioner Barbara Langdon said staff had followed up on the complaints. Development services staff explained the legal limits on code enforcement: the city may cite violations visible from public rights-of-way but does not have legal authority to enter private property without the owner's permission. Assistant City Attorney Caitlin Coughlin said the property is in foreclosure and the legal owner remains Cloud 10 Marketing LLC; she said the bank and a potential buyer are in negotiations and that adding liens could complicate a pending sale.
Fire Rescue District staff told commissioners that the fire marshal and building inspector had previously inspected the property, identified violations and required repairs; they said some vegetation mitigation work occurred with help from the Florida Forest Service and community volunteers about a year ago.
Residents asked the commission to send a letter to the bank or to direct code enforcement to take immediate action; commissioners did not send a letter at the meeting but asked staff to consider whether updated information from residents warranted further enforcement steps that can be taken without entering private property or that would not jeopardize an imminent sale.
No new enforcement action or city-funded remediation was approved at the meeting; staff noted that if the property's legal owner fails to remedy visible exterior violations, the city's normal code-enforcement remedies (noting limitations for undeveloped property) remain available.
