The first significant case involved a property on 415th Avenue North, where a green bus had been cited for not meeting the required setbacks. The code enforcement officer presented evidence of the violations and proposed a $250 fine for each instance of non-compliance. The property owner, Carrie McLan, defended their position, stating that the bus served as a means of personal travel with their children. McLan also mentioned efforts to address the setback violations within 24 hours of notification. The discussion touched upon the frequency of the violations and questioned the reasonableness of McLan’s actions concerning compliance.

A particularly interesting point in this case was the code enforcement officer’s suggestion that McLan should contact her before moving the bus to avoid future violations. After deliberation, the Special Magistrate considered whether to find McLan in compliance provided they notify the code enforcement officer before moving the bus and ensure that any encroachment did not exceed a 24-hour period. McLan expressed appreciation for the guidance and agreed to the conditions suggested. The code enforcement officer offered a final piece of advice to the property owner to get in touch should they need to bring out the bus, before concluding the hearing on this matter.

Another case that captured attention was the unauthorized installation of a container on a property without securing a building permit. The property owner was in the process of obtaining the necessary permits and relocating the container to meet setback and lot coverage requirements. The Special Magistrate considered the situation and recommended an additional 60 days for the project’s completion.

The meeting also addressed a deck that had been constructed without a permit, violating setback requirements. In a similar vein, a property owner was advised to secure a building permit for an accessory structure that had been installed without authorization. These cases underscore the ongoing issues the city faces with unauthorized construction and the efforts of the Special Magistrate to enforce compliance while providing property owners with a path to rectify their situations.

In consideration of the circumstances and the ongoing process to resolve the issues, the decision was made not to recommend any fines for one of the cases.

The meeting participants discussed the scheduling of the next assembly, emphasizing the importance of meeting the compliance deadlines that had been set.