Clear Lake council upholds abatement order for 14525 Lakeshore Drive, gives owner until Aug. 1 to submit engineered plans

The Clear Lake City Council voted to deny an appeal from property owner Rupa Shekhar and affirmed the hearing officer—s May 9, 2022, decision that the commercial building at 14525 Lakeshore Drive constitutes a public nuisance and may be abated if the owner does not obtain required permits by Aug. 1.

Greg Palmer, an attorney representing the city, told the council the appeal is governed by Clear Lake Municipal Code section 10-3.5 and that the body must decide whether to uphold, modify or overturn the hearing officer—s order. Lee Lambert, code enforcement supervisor, summarized the case history: the case opened Dec. 26, 2018, an order to abate issued March 23, 2022, and the hearing officer denied the appellant—s appeal on May 9. Lambert described the building as an exterior eyesore with boarded windows and interior deterioration, including mold and damaged structural components, and said staff…