Special magistrate orders permits, pauses fines and reduces liens at Fort Pierce code-enforcement hearing

The City of Fort Pierce Special Magistrate on March 13, 2025 found code violations across multiple properties, ordered owners to obtain permits within set timeframes and, in several cases, stayed the accrual of fines or reduced long-standing liens to administrative costs.

The hearing covered about two dozen enforcement files ranging from exterior structural damage at a four-unit condominium to expired permits, infestations and large liens on commercial and residential properties. The magistrate repeatedly ordered property owners to obtain required permits, comply with inspections and warned that unpaid matters could incur fines of $100 per day or revert to previously assessed amounts if payment plans were not met.

Why it matters: The decisions determine whether buildings must be vacated, how quickly repairs must begin, and whether accrued fines and liens will be reduced — outcomes that affect property owners, tenants and the city’s efforts to remediate blight.

Inspectors for the city presented photographs and case histories. "The case was initiated 09/12/2024," said Logan Wynne, a building inspector and investigator for the City of Fort Pierce, describing evidence for 332 Hernando Street. Owners and managers told the magistrate they had engaged engineers and contractors and that permit applications were in process.

The magistrate struck one interior-stairs charge in the Hernando Street case but found violations 1 through 4 existed and gave the owners 60 days to obtain permits. "I find that the violations, 1 through 4 exist and that the violators be given 60 days to obtain a permit," the magistrate said when issuing that order.

In several unpermitted-construction cases, owners negotiated longer time to produce plans and permits. At 1009 Sunrise Boulevard, property management asked for more time and the city agreed; the magistrate granted 90 days for the owner to obtain permits and begin inspections. Miles Keller, an investigator, testified about the Sunrise Boulevard file and the damaged work that had been done without permits.

Other hearings involved requests to reduce longstanding lien amounts for blighted properties. For two parcels owned by Cedar Place LLC, staff calculated administrative costs and recommended reducing liens to those administrative amounts; the magistrate approved reductions and set payment schedules. For example, an accrued lien totaling about $640,280 for one Cedar Place parcel was reduced to an administrative cost of $1,805.45 with six months to pay.

At a Massey hearing for 1713 Bayshore Drive (owner George Cheshire), call-in representative Ellen O'Connor said contractors were preparing stamped plans but requested more time. "I would like 90 [days] just to be sure," she said. Staff agreed to stay accrual of fines and provide a 90-day extension.

Most orders followed a pattern: if a violation is found, the magistrate gave owners 60 days (or, where the city agreed, 90 days) to obtain permits, required periodic inspections as permits progressed and warned that uncured violations could lead to $100-per-day fines or reinstatement of prior lien amounts if payment plans failed.

Votes at a glance (case number — address — owner — outcome/key deadline): - BV2024-00045 — 332 Hernando St — Crossed Anchors Condominium Association — Violations 1–4 found; 60 days to obtain permits; corrective item 5 (interior stairs) withdrawn/stricken. - BB2024000681009 — 1009 Sunrise Blvd — New Millionaires Inc. — Violation found; 90 days to obtain permits and inspections. - BB202400074 — 410 Acai Lane — (owner) — Violation found; 90 days to obtain permits and inspections (staff agreed to 90 days). - 24-1196 — 1206 N 209th St (Buildings 1–4) — SP Pine Creek Village LP — Staff stayed fines and granted a 90-day extension while remediation proceeds (mold remediation under way). - 16-27 — 411 Cedar Place — Cedar Place LLC — Lien reduced to administrative cost $1,805.45; six months to pay. - 17-11... — (second Cedar Place parcel) — Cedar Place LLC — Lien reduced to administrative cost $1,503.65; six months to pay. - 21-2867 — 202 Gardenia Ave — Daryl Gilliam & Ada Esquivel — Lien reduced to administrative cost $1,604.05; payable over 12 months. - 203-1588 — 308 Avenue A — East Coast Land Holdings LLC — Fine reduced to administrative cost $766.45; 30 days to pay. - 23-1634 — 109 Fisherman's Wharf — Joseph G. Miller — Fine reduced to administrative cost $902.85; 30 days to pay. - 23-2858 — 1509 Avenue E — Ronald & Janice Sweeting — Fine reduced to administrative cost $971.45; 30 days to pay. - Multiple cases for 505 N/S 20 Fifth Street (fire-damaged property) — 505 South 20 Fifth Street LLC — Violations found across several files; owners given 60 days to obtain permits and inspections (magistrate noted permits applied for but plan reviews rejected and ordered compliance). - 24-536 — 1713 Bayshore Drive — George Cheshire — Accrued fines stayed for 90 days; 90-day extension to obtain permits and finalize plans.

What owners said: April Mincey, an owner and HOA board member at the 332 Hernando Street condominium, told the magistrate the association had retained an engineer in March 2024 who took core samples and then produced reports. "I bought it back a second time, so it's dear to my heart," Mincey said, describing the owners' work to obtain plans and a corrected commercial permit.

What inspectors said: Logan Wynne summarized the Hernando Street photographs, saying they showed "spalling concrete" and exposed rebar on beams, columns, staircases and balconies. Miles Keller and Frank Bremerling presented photographs and stop-work notices for other properties.

What the magistrate ordered: In most cases the magistrate found that violations existed; owners were ordered to obtain permits within 60 days unless the city and respondent agreed to 90 days. Orders included periodic inspections (at least every 180 days while a permit remains open), and the standard $100-per-day fine if corrective actions are not completed after the deadline. Several lien-reduction requests were granted only to administrative-cost amounts and with defined payment schedules.

The magistrate closed the hearing after entering findings and timetables for the listed properties; owners retain a 30-day right to appeal each order.

Ending note: The hearing included documentary exhibits (city composite photo exhibits and respondent submissions) entered into the record for multiple cases; the magistrate said the orders would be issued with the deadlines and appeal rights noted.