Wellington special magistrate finds violations in dozens of property cases; deadlines, fines set

The Village of Wellington Special Magistrate on Feb. 20, 2025, heard testimony in a large docket of code-enforcement cases and issued findings of violation in numerous matters, giving most respondents until March 20 to correct violations or face daily fines and, in some cases, certification of those fines at later hearings.

The decisions covered a range of complaints and inspection findings: unpermitted work and expired engineering permits, missing or dying landscaping, stained or deteriorated driveways and walls, trash and household items visible from the street, missing or unapproved vegetation-removal permits, and short-term rental (vacation-rental) properties operating without required special-use permits.

Why it matters: Code-enforcement hearings are the municipality’s primary avenue for ordering repairs, vegetation replacement, removal of debris or unpermitted structures, and for imposing fines when property owners do not correct violations. The magistrate’s orders typically set specific compliance dates, calculate per-day fines for continued noncompliance, and reserve a fine-certification hearing so fines can be formally levied and recorded against a property if the respondent does not act.

What the magistrate ordered

- Most respondents were given until March 20, 2025, to correct cited violations. Several cases were set for fine-certification hearings on April 17, 2025, at 9 a.m. at the Wellington Municipal Complex if violations remain uncorrected. A smaller number of matters had earlier compliance dates (some at February 26 or February 28) or higher per-day fines where noted in the file.

- The standard penalty the magistrate announced for continuing violations was typically $25 per day, per violation, with administrative costs assessed in each matter (costs ranged in the record from about $11.65 to as much as $48.19 depending on the case). A case involving an unsecured pool barrier was assessed the higher emergency fine rate recorded in the file: $250 per day.

Votes at a glance (case number — respondent — property — primary violation(s) — compliance date — fine/cost — next step)

- NOHCC38592024 — Khalid Altba — 14176 Blackberry Dr. — household items visible from street; dead/bare landscaped areas — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day per violation; cost $13.03 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC12612024 — Rancho Chico Corporate Office LLC — 1223 Hyacinth Pl. — dead/bare landscape areas (LDR 7.8.0.7.b) — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day from 01/17/2025; cost $47.46 — Fine certified at hearing.

- NOHCC41972024 — Roberta/Robert R. Trum Family Recoverable Trust — 1420 Wood Dale Terrace — multiple exterior and landscape maintenance items (roof, gutters, hedges, missing groundcover) — Correct by 06/19/2025 (extended) — $25/day thereafter; cost $13.03 (waived if in compliance by date) — Fine-certification set for 07/17/2025.

- NOHCC26992023 — Scovern Schrider — 14371 Draft Horse Ln. — expired engineering permit (LDR 1.7.0.2) — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $50/day thereafter; cost $11.55 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC34862023 — Wellington Polo Corp. — 4651 120th Ave. S. — expired engineering permit for field fill (ENG 17-100169) — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $50/day; cost $15.95 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC50092024 — 13225 Southfields Road Holdings, LLC — 13225 Southfields Rd. — livestock-waste/manure-bin inspection required (code 9-41.d) — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $50/day; cost $13.03 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC51682024 — Wellington Land and Cattle Company — 13056 Pearson Rd. — expired engineering permit (lake drainage outfall) — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $50/day; cost $12.38 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC23652023 — Mappa Realty Investments, LLC — 14831 Draught Horse Ln. — permit for earthwork/clearing/grading not obtained (LDR 8.7.0.5) — Fine certified: $50/day from 01/17/2025; cost $45.45.

- NOHCC34062024 — Veronica Nunez & Carlos Santiago Nunez La Cruz — 1930 Derby Trail — two pergolas/No building permit (code 5-1.105.1) — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day; cost $11.65 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC35182024 — Creighton LLC (successor trustee) — 15555 De Havilland Ct. — unpermitted work/stop-work orders not converted to permits — Fine certified: $100/day from 01/17/2025; cost $46.08.

- NOHCC43006024 — Scott Sylvain — 9846 Warner Ln. — no special-use permit for vacation rental (LDR 6.2.2.a.5) — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day; cost $13.03 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC51652024 — Olga & Vladimir Kithigarod — 1627 Firethorn Dr. — short-term rental without special-use permit — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day; cost $13.03 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC12292024 (two matters: 961 Citrus Pl. and 13720 Exotica Ln.) — I H 5 Property Bridal LP / Invitation Homes — driveway staining, tree removal without permit, missing permits — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day per violation; costs varied; fine-certification set for 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC36912024 — I H 5 Property Bridal LP — 13720 Exotica Ln. — walls stained; missing hedges and shrubs — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day; cost $11.65 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC13302024 — William Maeta LLC — 13723 Sunflower Ct. — dead/dying hedges and bare landscape areas — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day; cost $11.65 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC23392024 — Benita & Andrew McDonald — 767 Juniper Pl. — garage door deterioration, wall staining; missing mulch and dead palm fronds — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day; cost $12.38 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC25762024 — Resicap Growth Bridal Owner LLC — 1721 Shoreline Dr. — unapproved fence/gate — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day; cost $13.03 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC28582024 — Justin & Carmen D’Antonio — 14420 Horseshoe Trace — fence staining / missing mulch in hedge bed — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day; cost $11.65 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC29272024 — Anthony & April Decandia — 944 Sage Ave. — hedges dead or diseased, missing mulch, debris in beds — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day; cost $13.03 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC36932024 — SRP Sub, LLC — 658 Dracaena Dr. — missing shrubs, garbage cans visible from driveway, missing mulch and dead/bare landscape areas — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day; cost $11.65 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC40552024 — Violet & Solomon Frasier — 14566 Larkspur Ln. — household items and garbage cans visible from street; dead tree removed without permit — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day; cost $11.65 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC41172024 — Karen & Eric LeKind — 12490 Shoreline Dr. — roof/trim staining, driveway deterioration, household items visible — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day; cost $11.65 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC42512024 — Judah Minkihiman (unit A) — 13824 Yamoth Dr. — garbage cans visible from property; 02/26/2025 compliance date given — Dismissed redundant curb-count; $25/day; cost $13.03.

- NOHCC47032024 — N Plain View 1 LLC — 14106 Wellington Trace — dead tree on property — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day; cost $11.65 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC49142024 — Miguel & Diana Zambrano — 12282 Sawgrass Ct. — hedges exceed 8 feet adjacent to major thoroughfare — Correct by 03/20/2025 — $25/day; cost $11.65 — Fine-certification 04/17/2025.

- NOHCC49252024 — Ricardo Jose LaCana Garcia — 13129 Waxwing Terr. — trailer stored in yard (code 22-9.d) — Correct by 02/28/2025 — $25/day; cost $13.03 — Fine-certification 03/20/2025.

Fine-certification outcomes (selected)

- NOHCC19482024 — AW Petroleum Inc. — 12000 S Shore Blvd. — driveway/parking-lot markings not visible — Certified fine $25/day from 01/17/2025; cost $35.16.

- NOHCC27712024 — Rose Marie Simone — 13597 Barbary Dr. — operating vacation rental without special-use permit — Certified fine $25/day from 01/17/2025; cost $46.81.

- NOHCC35562024 — Felicia P. Bridal & Morris L. Jameson — 1726 Shoreside Cir. — roof staining remaining after stipulated extension — Certified fine $25/day from 01/17/2025; cost $47.46.

- NOHCC35722024 — Christopher Lee Stanfield — 11705 Greenbrier Cir. — roof/garage/garbage-can violations — Certified fine $25 per violation per day from 01/17/2025; cost $46.08.

- NOHCC36072024 — William B. McMullen — 12814 Spinnaker Ln. — roof/foundational hedging violations — Certified fine $25/day per violation from 01/17/2025; cost $48.19.

- NOHCC39772024 — Rorick Ellington — 1823 Shower Tree Way — roofing and missing foundation shrubs — Certified fine $25/day from 12/17/2024; cost $34.43.

- NOHCC50292024 — RJC & Associates, Inc. — 1826 Stanford Cir. — unsecured pool barrier (life-safety) — Certified fine $250/day commencing 02/06/2025; cost $47.46.

What respondents said in the hearing

- Jennifer Abreu, the tenant at 14176 Blackberry Drive, told the magistrate she uses traffic cones to keep children from running into the street and said she sometimes places cones near the roadway for safety when children are playing. "I have 5 children...there's cars that go past 25 miles an hour," Abreu said, explaining the cones are part of her effort to keep kids safe while they play in the yard.

- Jeffrey Trail, successor co-trustee for property owners at 1420 Wood Dale Terrace, said his sister (the resident) had been critically ill and that contractors and landscapers had been scheduled; he asked for leniency and time. "I'm not disputing any of this. I'm asking for a little leniency and compassion," Trail said, describing ongoing efforts to hire contractors and complete cleaning and landscaping work.

Process notes and next steps

- The special magistrate repeatedly noted that photo evidence and notices were entered into the record for each case and that costs (administrative fees) would be assessed if violations are not corrected. In several matters magistrate orders waived administrative cost if the respondent came into compliance by the set date.

- Where respondents did not appear or did not present a stipulation, the magistrate entered findings based on staff testimony, the notices and photographs in the record.

- Parties ordered to correct violations by March 20 who do not do so will face fine-certification hearings on April 17, 2025 (most cases) or the alternate dates listed above. For cases already certified at today’s hearing the magistrate recorded fines and costs (see list above).

- The village’s code-compliance office is the source for filing status, questions about deadlines or proof of correction. The magistrate record shows staff contact emails and phone attempts were routinely documented in each file.