Stanislaus supervisors authorize forced cleanup of burned Modesto property, delay action on nearby Turlock parcel
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Summary
The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 13 approved a forced demolition and cleanup for a fire-damaged Modesto property after staff documented years of noncompliance; the board continued a separate Turlock nuisance-abatement case to Feb. 24 after evidence of partial cleanup.
Stanislaus County supervisors voted Jan. 13 to adopt staff recommendations to abate a long-running nuisance at 1347 North Carpenter Road in Modesto and authorized demolition and cost recovery if the owner does not correct the violations. The decision followed a multi-year case history and a recent fire that left the structure unsafe.
County code-enforcement staff told the board the case opened July 19, 2022, and has included 27 site inspections, 20 administrative citations and unpaid fines totaling about $7,500. After repeated outreach and a Nuisance Abatement Board (NAB) hearing, staff recommended forced cleanup and lien-based cost recovery if the owner fails to act. “The case was open on 07/19/2022,” staff said while summarizing inspections and the post-fire condition that prompted the demolition recommendation.
Supervisors praised enforcement staff but acknowledged the process can be lengthy. One supervisor said most cases close within three to six months, but complex matters can take years; staff said around 15% of cases can extend one to three years when owners do not cooperate. The board approved the staff recommendation by voice vote, 5-0.
At the same meeting the board considered a second abatement matter at 859 North Kenwood Avenue in Turlock. Staff reported 30 site inspections and 18 citations in that case, with fines totaling about $6,700. Recent photographs and an inspector’s report showed the owner had removed a travel trailer and undertaken other work; staff estimated roughly 60% of the cleanup was complete.
Members said they favored compliance where possible and asked staff to return with progress updates. The board continued the Kenwood Avenue item to its Feb. 24 meeting for reinspection and follow-up; supervisors said they would take stricter action if the owner failed to maintain progress.
Public commenters included a friend of the Kenwood property owner and the owner, who described family ties to the parcel and the difficulty of eviction and cleanup. “I live on the property,” owner Cabrini Herrera told the board, explaining she had repeatedly worked to remove debris despite limited resources. A supporter, identified in the record as Emily, asked the board to pause forced cleanup and said the property uses flood irrigation and berms for groundwater recharge — arguing heavy equipment could damage an irrigation valve and harm recharge efforts.
Code-enforcement staff responded that the department had tried repeated outreach, that the NAB had reviewed the matters and that abatements are paid from the code-enforcement abatement fund with costs later pursued through liens and standard collection processes. Staff also said the department will consider receivership where state law permits and that they will pursue options to speed enforcement where the board directs.
