Neighbors press Clearwater board to force repairs at fire‑damaged Willow Tree Trail home; owner given May 29 deadline

The Municipal Code Enforcement Board voted March 25 to find the property at 2390 Willow Tree Trail in violation of the city’s unsafe‑building and nuisance codes and to require the owner to bring the site into compliance by May 29, 2026, or the city may enter the property to abate the nuisance and record a lien for costs.

The decision followed hour‑long testimony from building inspectors and a string of neighbors who described a fire‑damaged and largely unoccupied house, a stagnant, unmaintained pool and ongoing rodent and trespass concerns. “We respectfully request that the board take decisive action … and move forward with enforcement measures requiring demolition or full remediation,” said Stephanie Sisti, reading a letter on behalf of the Woodgate Homeowners Association.

City building inspector James Larson told the board the house sustained major fire damage in September 2023 and that the property has been the subject of multiple abatements and code actions since then. Larson said the city already has taken some cleanup steps — removing an abandoned vehicle and cutting vegetation multiple times — but that the house remains partially demolished and unsecured. Kevin Garriott, the city’s building official, described an interior “exploration demo” permit obtained recently but said the permit alone does not resolve the underlying code violations: “The fact that he has demolition permit does not make the violation go away,” Garriott said.

Owner William Black told the board he recently obtained an exploratory demolition permit and said he intends to continue work on the house but asked for more time to secure power and coordinate contractors. “I started to continue from here on,” he said, adding that health issues and the timeline for permits and inspections complicate the work. Neighbors, however, urged faster action. Susan Huddleston, who lives next door, recounted persistent problems including a green pool, rodents and debris: “A deserted vacant home, easy access for anyone to enter at any time … makes me feel uncomfortable living next door.”

Board members debated whether to split the case into separate timelines — for example ordering immediate abatement of the pool while allowing more time for interior rehabilitation — but ultimately adopted a single nuisance abatement order at the city’s request. The board’s order requires complete restoration to meet minimum building‑code standards, or demolition of the remaining structure and remediation of yard and pool, by 05/29/2026; fines of $150 per day per violation were described in staff recommendations if compliance is not met and a lien will be recorded for abatement costs.

The board and city staff also noted a legal constraint on foreclosure for homestead property: the city’s counsel explained that while the city may record liens for abatement costs, foreclosure on homestead property is restricted by law, and the usual remedy is the lien and title impact rather than immediate foreclosure.

The order preserves the city’s option to take action if the property is not brought into compliance; the city would solicit contractor bids, abate the nuisance and record the costs as a lien against the property.

The board heard similar neighborhood testimony and moved on to other agenda items after thanking the inspectors and residents.