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Magistrate sets compliance deadlines and fines across multiple Fort Pierce code-enforcement cases
Summary
At the March 18 hearing the special magistrate ordered a range of compliance deadlines — mostly 7–60 days — and fines for property-maintenance, parking and lot-clearing violations, and accepted payments and exhibits in multiple parking-citation cases.
The special magistrate hearing Wednesday in Fort Pierce resolved a bundle of routine code-enforcement matters, ordering compliance deadlines and fines across several residential and parking cases.
Among the outcomes: parking citations at city parks resulted in $78 fines (including fees) when officers presented photographic evidence; Stanley Espinal, who said a cousin had been driving his motorcycle on the day of the citation, told the court he would pay and the magistrate ordered the $78 assessment.
For residential code matters the magistrate's orders varied by case: Trevonna Franklin (317 North 27th Street) was given 30 days to stop parking vehicles and trailers in the front yard, remove outside storage and trash, and ensure operable vehicle registration — failure to comply will trigger a $100-per-day fine. April Jones (319 North 27th Street) likewise received 30 days to make vehicles operable, refrain from parking on unpaved surfaces and remove debris, with a $100-per-day penalty for noncompliance. Edith Hepburn, representing an owner at 703 North 23rd Street, was granted 60 days to address landscaping, vehicle registration and trash removal after explaining multiple vehicle registrations and economic constraints; the court stressed movement must be shown and allowed the owner to request more time through the code office if needed.
The court also addressed lot-clearing and nuisance abatement cases; Affordable Home Development LLC (427 Means Court) provided financial documentation and the magistrate reduced the outstanding amount to the city’s administrative cost ($647.13), payable within six months. The magistrate repeatedly reminded respondents of appeal rights and of the daily fines that will begin if ordered work is not completed.
Code enforcement officers and city witnesses moved photographs and notices of violation into evidence in each matter; the magistrate accepted those exhibits and entered orders consistent with the city's recommendations in most routine cases. Several cases were continued or rescheduled as noted on the hearing list.
The hearing concluded with a stipulation in one case giving a property owner 30 days to repaint exterior areas and with procedural reminders about service and posting of notices under state statute.
