Escondido Planning Commission continues appeal over notice to abate public nuisance at 1004 N. Ash St.

The Escondido Planning Commission on April 8 continued an appeal of a March 5 notice and order requiring abatement of an alleged public nuisance at 1004 North Ash Street, giving the property owner time to work with city staff on inspections and permits before the commission takes final action.

Principal Planner Oscar Romero told commissioners that "staff recommends Planning Commission adopt resolution number 2025-05, denying the appeal and upholding the issued notice and order." The commission did not adopt that resolution on Tuesday; after extended questioning of staff, the code compliance officer and the property owner's attorney, commissioners voted 4-2 to continue the hearing to the commission's May 13 meeting.

The appeal centers on a code-enforcement case opened after city staff observed unpermitted construction and multiple safety and habitability concerns at a parcel developed with a primary residence, a detached garage and an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). Romero summarized the site's permitting history: a detached garage conversion to an ADU was approved in February 2018; a 2022 building permit approved an 854-square-foot ADU and conversion of the existing ADU back to a garage; code compliance activity began in December 2023 and culminated in the March 5, 2025 notice and order.

The property owner appealed the notice, arguing procedural defects and contesting the substance of 12 listed violations. Attorney Steve Aldaco, representing appellant Zaydo Properties, told the commission the March 5 notice lacked required proof-of-service documentation and said the certified-mail requirement in Escondido Municipal Code section 6-4-88 was not satisfied. "Reading that last paragraph on page 14... the building official shall issue a notice and order and mail a copy by certified mail. That didn't take place,…