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Royal Palm Beach magistrate orders compliance deadlines, reduces several fines after Feb. 11 code-enforcement hearing
Summary
Special Magistrate Doug MacGibbon heard dozens of Village of Royal Palm Beach code-enforcement cases Feb. 11, 2026. He set compliance deadlines (commonly March 26), started fines for long-outstanding violations, and approved several fine mitigations and settlements payable by May 11.
Special Magistrate Doug MacGibbon presided over a Village of Royal Palm Beach special magistrate hearing on Feb. 11, 2026, addressing dozens of code-enforcement and fine-mitigation cases from commercial parking lots to condominium stairwells. The session opened with witnesses sworn and village evidence entered into the record.
The most common outcome was a compliance deadline of March 26, with a requirement that property representatives call the code-enforcement officer for inspection once repairs were complete. For one commercial property, the magistrate ordered a $125 base fine plus continuing charges until the parking-lot sealcoating and striping were completed and inspected; the owner said work was scheduled for the coming weekend (village inspector: Margaret Hancoat).
In mitigation hearings, the magistrate reduced a $1,200 fine for Leotis and Dorothy Sanders to $500, payable by May 11. In a larger case, CS Property Holdings LLC (initially assessed $30,625) asked for reduction; the village recommended $7,011.26 and the magistrate set a $5,000 payment due May 11 as a compromise.
Several condominium and association cases drew extended discussion. Palm Beach Trace Condominium Association reported hiring Epic Engineering, paying a $5,000 retainer for a forensic stair-and-structure review, and signing contracts to begin repairs; the association requested time to complete stair, sidewalk, dumpster-enclosure and parking-lot repairs. The magistrate allowed a short continuance (status hearing set for March 9) but warned that fines would resume if the association did not show meaningful progress.
Other common orders included: - A fallen tree in the Sandpiper Avenue canal was ordered removed or made safe by March 26 or the owner must appear April 8, with a $25-per-day fine threatened for noncompliance. - A religious center (25‑1101129, Shabbat Jewish Center of Royal Palm Beach) was ordered to obtain AAR (Architectural and Aesthetic Review) approval and engineering permits for parking-lot repairs and repaving; compliance was set for March 26. - Multiple property-ownership and landscape violations required vegetation-removal permits and restoration to the approved landscape plans; the village repeatedly emphasized permit and inspection steps.
Magistrate MacGibbon repeatedly advised property representatives to submit permit applications immediately, monitor the email address used for permit correspondence, and call code enforcement once work is complete so inspectors can document compliance and stop fines. Several respondents were reminded that homesteaded properties cannot be foreclosed on for municipal fines, but liens remain collectible on sale.
The hearing included exchanges between village counsel Amity Barnard, code officer Margaret Hancoat and a range of property owners and representatives (named witnesses include Eric Liebersfeld, Christopher Lam, Al Cogorn, Clifford Chippy, Jose Garcia, Sandeep Pandhary and attorney Kendrick Meek Jr.). Most compliance dates were March 26; mitigation payments in selected cases were set for May 11. The hearing concluded after the magistrate processed multiple remaining violations and announced dates for follow-up hearings.
