The Coppell Building Standards Commission voted unanimously Dec. 5 to require the owner of 407 Greenway Court to bring the fire‑damaged house into compliance after staff presented photographs and a timeline showing the property has remained unrepaired since a May 28, 2022 fire.

City Code Compliance Officer Desiree Bilerman told the commission the two‑story, roughly 3,000‑square‑foot house in the Waterside Estates neighborhood has been gutted and left exposed to the elements. Bilerman said staff estimated the fire‑related property loss at about $350,000 and noted title searches show two mortgage liens and seven involuntary liens totaling more than $300,000. “Within 30 days, we'd like to see the owner obtain the required roof and alteration permits,” Bilerman said, and outlined milestones that would require interior work to begin at 60 days and all repairs to be complete within 120 days.

The owner, identified in staff materials as Keenan McCarty and sworn for testimony at the hearing, said insurance delays and contractor disputes slowed work. “It's been a horror story as far as just trying to get money out of them,” he said, describing a dispute with an adjuster and what he called attempts by a contractor to inflate tear‑out charges. McCarty said roughly $320,000 from the insurance claim is currently held by his lender and that he plans to pursue legal remedies while moving forward with repairs.

Neighbors told the commission the exposed structure has become a neighborhood nuisance and health concern. Rick Roberts, who lives next door at 411 Greenway Court, asked the commission to require sealing openings promptly because, he said, “it is rodent infested,” and described increased pest activity affecting adjacent properties. Neighbors also raised safety concerns about a stagnant pool and asked the commission to include clear consequences if milestones are missed.

After a closed deliberation, commissioners returned to the public room and approved staff’s recommendation with amendments. The order requires that, within 30 days of the signed order the owner provide proof of rodent control, seal exterior holes and missing windows and doors (including dryer vent covers), secure the fence and gate and provide a city key, and clean or drain the pool. Staff said permits—if submitted with complete information—are typically processed in 7–10 days and that the city would work to expedite the owner’s permit reviews.

The commission scheduled a show‑cause hearing for Feb. 6, 2025 to review compliance and said demolition would be considered if the owner fails to meet the amended milestones. A commission member said the timeline offered by staff was more lenient than usual; Bilerman said staff has used similar timelines in past cases but more commonly gives 90 days to comply. The commission instructed staff to draft a formal order reflecting the motion and amendments and provide it to the owner; once signed it will be a public record.

Bilerman and staff displayed inspection photographs from Oct. 9, 2024 showing broken and boarded windows, missing plumbing fixtures and open sewer lines, warped decking, charred plywood and holes in the roof sheathing. Staff also reported rodent droppings and missing exterior vent covers that allow pests to enter the structure.

The commission’s motion carried unanimously and the meeting adjourned later that evening. The final order and any documentation provided by the owner about insurance claims or litigation were requested by staff for the Feb. 6 review.