Charlotte County magistrate issues compliance orders, stays fines in one case pending appeal

Charlotte County Special Magistrate pro tem Robert Bernsen on July 2, 2025 heard more than two dozen code‑enforcement matters and issued a series of orders requiring property owners to correct violations or face daily fines and possible abatement.

The magistrate continued one contested matter — COD2301923 involving Jensen Inc., 21496 Holdren Avenue — until the September hearing and temporarily stayed the county’s daily fines while a variance appeal is pending. County code officer Jay officer Mansfield testified that plans had been submitted for a permit but could not be issued because a variance had been denied and that a second affidavit of noncompliance had produced a 90‑day fine amounting to $22,520. Respondent representative Carlos Londono said the variance appeal is under review and asked the court to stay fines until the appellate decision. County attorney Brandon Hackworth told the court he had no objection to pausing fines pending the appeal. Magistrate Bernsen said he would continue the matter to September and not issue a fine at this time.

Across the rest of the docket, magistrate orders followed county staff recommendations in most cases. Officer Matthew Greenwood testified in several matters; in COD2402453 (Richard Carpenter, 3006 Sunny Harbor Drive) Greenwood said building work lacked required permits and that a reinspection…