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Belleair Beach loses patience over unfinished house renovation
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Thursday, June 7, 2007 |
BELLEAIR BEACH – The owners of an unfinished house on Harbor Drive could face fines of nearly $200,000.
The City Council voted June 4 to impose a $250 a-day fine, which began in September 2005, on the home being rebuilt by Tom and Sandra Brown. A year ago the city agreed to stop the fine imposed by the city’s Code Enforcement Board in an agreement with the homeowners that all work would be finished on the house by May of this year.
For two years neighbors have complained about the unfinished house, calling it an eyesore on the street of neatly manicured lawns and pricey homes. Among those voicing complaints are Mayor Lynn Rives and former Mayor Michael Kelly.
“In no way, shape or form will that house be near completion in the next two or three weeks,” Rives said in proposing that the city re-impose the fines that started in September 2005.
Rives said to be finished according to the owner’s agreement with the city, a certificate of occupancy should have been issued by June 3. He said he understood the house failed a county inspection last month.
Commissioner Richard Crowl, an attorney, said he was afraid the city now will face “six years of litigation” over the fines because they are so substantial. He said the owners would still have no reason to move any faster.
The Browns weren’t at the meeting. In the past they complained that they were also anxious to move into the renovated home that sustained hurricane damage in 2003 and subsequent mold contamination because of a leaky roof.
The owners have blamed delays on their contractor.
Rives noted that last year’s agreement contained a completion date suggested by the Brown’s contractor.
The commission voted to send the Browns a letter advising that they believed the homeowners had violated the contract terms by not having completed the work on schedule. And, the letter will advise the Browns of a hearing date to reinstate the fines retroactive to the Code Enforcement Board’s imposition of the fines.
No date was set for that hearing, but Rives said it would be held during June at a special commission meeting.
Kelly applauded the action, calling the unfinished house a “debacle.”
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Article published on Thursday, June 7, 2007
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