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Council approves settlement requiring owner at 55 4th Ave NW to correct code violations within 12 months
Summary
The council approved a settlement with property owner Samara Montoya resolving administrative citations for unsheltered storage and unauthorized vehicles at 55 4th Avenue NW; the agreement requires a building permit and construction to cure violations within 12 months or citations will be reinstated.
The Forest Lake City Council approved a settlement agreement with Samara Montoya resolving administrative citations issued at 55 4th Avenue Northwest for unsheltered storage and unauthorized vehicles.
City staff explained the administrative citation process (an alternative to criminal enforcement adopted in January 2024) and said enforcement is complaint‑driven. The enforcement officer cited the property for multiple items, including building materials, trailers, lawn equipment, bicycles stored openly, and inoperable or unlicensed vehicles. Staff said the owner appealed the citation, then agreed to a settlement with conditions including obtaining a building permit and constructing a structure to remedy the storage issues within 12 months. Failure to comply would reinstate the citation and allow the city to recoup associated costs; the settlement also waived the right to re‑appeal the same matter.
When asked whether utilities (water/sewer) were available to the site and whether a garage could be built in the northeast corner, staff said they had reviewed the site and believed municipal water and sewer were available and that a garage could be sited in the northeast corner, although final site plan approval and zoning review remain necessary.
The council approved the settlement with minor modifications by the city attorney by voice vote.
What happens next: The owner must obtain applicable building permits and complete construction within 12 months; code enforcement will follow up and may reinstate citations or pursue cost recovery if the conditions are not met.
