Ocala board moves to resume fines for stalled Hampton Manor construction site

The City of Ocala Code Enforcement Board voted to proceed with a prior enforcement order and resume civil fines for the Hampton Manor construction site, a large assisted-living/nursing facility project in northeast Ocala (Case 20239885).

City staff told the board the site had multiple periods of noncompliance, earlier prosecutions and at least one extension; based on a staff calculation, fines had accrued to an estimated $110,000 at the time the file was reviewed. City staff asked the board to impose fines to "motivate" compliance and to conclude the long-running enforcement process.

Dennis Booze, who said he is the property manager for the owner, was sworn and testified he had been assigned to the job about two months earlier, that bank approval was expected "today or tomorrow" and that he had brought the site into "95% compliance". "We just have to do the silt fencing in the back, and then we should be good to go," Booze said.

A resident who identified herself as Janice Crow described the site to the board as "a mess," saying a sign was broken and weeds were growing around the property. The board discussed the site's history of extensions and the need for closure and then voted to accept staff's recommendation to find ongoing noncompliance and proceed with the prior order so fines may be imposed.

Board members indicated the owner may petition to reduce or eliminate fines if the property is brought into compliance quickly and staff supports such a petition. The motion to proceed with the prior order carried by voice vote.

What happens next: Staff will resume calculating and posting fines under the existing order; the owner may return to the board seeking mitigation if the work is completed promptly.