Owner ordered to remove or permit second deck on city property; magistrate gives 30‑day extension

Special Magistrate Ryan Knight found that two decks at 468 Palmetto Street were constructed without required permits and that at least one deck encroached on city property.

Owner Scott D'Andrea said he had already removed one deck and was seeking help to remove the second. Code enforcement reported that inspections showed two decks built into the lake and noted that the first deck appears to have been constructed between April and December 2024 while the second was added this year. The decks were built without permits and—because one sits on city property—must be either removed or legalized through the permit and survey process.

The magistrate told D'Andrea he must either remove the remaining deck or obtain a permit and complete the survey and permit process by Oct. 11, 2025. “If it is still there and there is no permit, then you're going to be looking at a daily fine for any time past September 22,” the magistrate said during the hearing; later the magistrate agreed to a 30‑day timeline to remove it and ordered correction by Oct. 11. Staff recommended a $75 citation fine and daily fines of $250 for each day the violation continues past the deadline; the magistrate upheld the citation and set the compliance date.

City staff advised that if the deck remains in place after the timeline expires, the city may conduct a formal survey and remove decks located on city property and bill the property owner for removal costs. The magistrate encouraged D'Andrea to contact code enforcement promptly if he pursues a permit so that staff can verify property boundaries and the possibility of moving the structure onto private property and permitting it.

The order requires removal or a valid permit by Oct. 11, 2025; failure to comply will trigger daily fines and potential city abatement.