Atlantic Beach code board closes cases and orders cleanup deadlines for problem properties

Magistrate Suzanne Green closed several code cases and issued compliance orders at a City of Atlantic Beach code enforcement hearing.

Jose Lasseum Gonzalez, the city’s code compliance officer, reported that 119 Jasmine Street, 1309 Rose Street and a vacant lot on Begonia Street had been brought into compliance and the city recommended closing those cases. The magistrate accepted the city’s recommendations and closed the cases.

Gonzalez presented the 265 Main Street file, noting the owner has applied for and obtained a fence permit but an inoperable vehicle remained; the city asked the board to order correction within 15 days and said it would return the case for rolling fines if the owner failed to comply. The magistrate adopted the 15-day order.

The board spent more time on 1251 Carnation Street, where the city documented overgrowth, outside storage and trash. Brent Parish, who identified himself as the property’s owner and contractor, told the magistrate he had been financially hamstrung by pending dissolution proceedings and was working with the city to resolve issues. Parish said, "I have approximately a quarter million dollars in the ground of that property," and described halted construction and difficulty paying for cleanup.

After hearing from the city and Parish, Magistrate Green set a 45-day compliance order for 1251 Carnation Street, longer than the city’s 30-day request, and stated that a daily fine would begin if the order is not followed: "So we'll do 45 days to compliance. And if not, I'm gonna say $2.50 a day," she said. The magistrate explained the order will be in writing and may be used in other enforcement or court proceedings. Several other cases, including 431 Irix Road (junk vehicle) were closed after the city reported compliance.