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CEH-05-22-2025-MINS LONGWOOD CODE ENFORCEMENT HEARING Longwood City Commission Chambers 175 West Warren Avenue Longwood, Florida MINUTES May 22, 2025 9:00 AM Present: Amy Goodblatt, Special Magistrate Brandon Pownall, City Attorney Also Present: Shelly Brana, Code Enforcement Officer Kristin Zack-Bowen, Planner Anjum Mukherjee, Senior Planner Alan Marin, Respondent Eric Simmons, Respondent Maria Marlen Paez Perez, Respondent 1. CALL TO ORDER Special Magistrate Amy Goodblatt called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Approve the minutes from the April 24, 2025 hearing. Special Magistrate Goodblatt approved Minutes from the April 24, 2025 meeting. 3. SPECIAL MAGISTRATE'S EXPLANATION OF PROCEEDINGS Special Magistrate Goodblatt explained the hearing process for the attendees. 4. ROLL CALL OF SCHEDULED CASES Special Magistrate Goodblatt did a roll call of the scheduled cases to determine which Respondents were present. 5. SWEARING IN OF ALL WITNESSES Special Magistrate Goodblatt swore in all witnesses. 6. PUBLIC HEARING A. CE25-00032: SIMON PARRILLA MANAGEMENT LLC, 295 S RONALD REAGAN BLVD. LDC, Article X Section 10.1.0 No Permit and LDC, Article III Section 3.2.3 D (3) Color Palette 5/22/2025/ 1 Shelly Brana, CEO, City of Longwood Code Enforcement Officer, introduced herself and presented a cost recovery document and photos to the Special Magistrate. The Respondent(s) were present. A Notice of Violation was issued to the property owner via certified mailing on February 11, 2025. Confirmation was received of the Notice of Violation being delivered on February 13, 2025. A Notice of Hearing was issued on May 5, 2025 and duly served on the property owner via certified mail on May 9, 2025. Ms. Brana stated that the property was in violation of LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0 because the building and front sign at the cited property were painted without approval of the Community Development Department and without a permit. She testified that the property came into compliance after the Notice of Hearing was issued and after the date set for compliance but before the hearing. The Respondent, Alan Marin, testified that they did not know they needed a permit. He was unaware of the color palette. The Special Magistrate made inquiries of the Code Enforcement Officer and the Respondent. The Special Magistrate found that the Respondent has violated LDC, ARTICLE X SECTION 10.1.0. Respondents are to pay administrative costs of$72.75 within 30 days after service of the Orders. B. CE25-00054: ERIC SIMMONS, 1150 N RONALD REAGAN BLVD. LDC, Article III Section 3.5.5(B) Tree Removal Shelly Brana, CEO, City of Longwood Code Enforcement Officer, introduced herself and presented a cost recovery document and photos to the Special Magistrate. The Respondent(s) were present. A Notice of Violation was issued to the property owner via certified mail on March 6, 2025. Confirmation was received of the Notice of Violation being delivered on March 11, 2025. A Notice of Hearing was issued on May 5, 2025 and duly served on the property owner via certified mail on May 9, 2025. Ms. Brana stated that the property was in violation of LDC, ARTICLE III SECTION 3.5.5(B) because a 32-inch Oak tree was removed from the cited commercial office property without first obtaining a permit. The property is not exempt as owner-occupied residential. The original fine requested per the Land Development code was $18,000, but the City is willing to reduce its fine request to $5000 if certain other terms and conditions are met. The City Planner, Kristin Zack Bowen,testified that the City agrees to reduce its requested fine from $18,000 to$5000 if the Respondent provides specific right-of-way landscaping along Ronald Reagan Blvd. The landscaping may consist only of evergreen shrubs of 30 inches in height and four trees of at least 10 feet in height. Alternatively, all shrubs may be used. 5/22/2025/2 The City's Senior Planner, Anjum Mukherjee, testified that the tree removed was a "specimen" oak tree. Per the Code the fee for every inch for such a tree that is replaced is $115 per inch. The Respondent, Eric Simmons, testified that he bought the property in October 2024. He called a tree contractor when he moved in who recommended the oak tree be removed after an arborist's report. He followed the recommendations of the arborist and took the tree down. He agrees to pay the $5000 but had emails requesting$30,000. He feels the fine requested is too high. He also testified as to how well his property is maintained compared to other properties in the neighborhood. The Special Magistrate made inquiries of the Code Enforcement Officer and the Respondent. The Special Magistrate found that the Respondent has violated LDC, ARTICLE III SECTION 3.5.5(B) Arbor- Tree Removal Permit Required. Respondents are to pay administrative costs of$66.48 within 30 days after service of the Orders. The Respondents are to pay a fine of$3,500, obtain the necessary arbor removal permit and comply with its terms. Those terms include either adding four 10 feet tall evergreen trees and thirty-two 30-inch evergreen shrubs along the right of way on Ronald Reagan Blvd. or just lining the right of way with 30-inch evergreen shrubs in a sufficient number to satisfy the permit's requirements. If the Respondent does not comply within 30 days from the date of service of the Order, Respondent is subject to additional fines up to the $18,000 sought by the City, after a hearing. C. CE25-00100: PAEZ PEREZ, MARIA N ENH LIFE EST, 1083 CRUMPET CT. LDC, Article III Section 3.2.0 Site Design Standards Shelly Brana, CEO, City of Longwood Code Enforcement Officer, introduced herself and presented a cost recovery document and photos to the Special Magistrate. The Respondent(s) were present. A Notice of Violation was issued to the property owner via certified mailing on April 30, 2025 and posted on property on May 5, 2025. A Notice of Hearing was issued on May 7, 2025 and duly served by First Class Mail and by posting on property and the 'City of Longwood at 175 W. Warren Ave. Longwood after Certified Mail was returned unclaimed. Ms. Brana stated that the property was in violation of LDC, ARTICLE III SECTION 3.2.0 because additional pavers were added to the property outside of the scope approved in the permit. Additionally, concrete was added which was not permitted. The impervious surface ration exceeds the maximum of 70%. 85% of the yard was covered in pavers. Notices of Violation were provided in English and Spanish. The Building Inspector placed a Stop work Order in March 2025. Many discussions were had with the property owner and the City regarding how to correct the violation. After the Notice of Hearing was issued, the Respondent came into the office to discuss the violations. The concrete and excess pavers were removed after the time set for compliance. The respondent tenant gave the following testimony. The Respondent testified through a translator, her friend, Amidtzalee Laguna Mundo. On May 8, 2025, she came to the office to ask 5/22/2025/3 what needed to be done, after receiving her Notice of Violation on May 5, 2025. She needed to hire a contractor to remove the pavers and the concrete. She states that she only was given from May 5 until May 8 to comply. Respondent received the initial notification in late March, that she signed for, but it was confirmed that the original notice was due to undertaking the work without a permit not for exceeding the impervious surface limits. The Special Magistrate made inquiries of the Code Enforcement Officer and the Respondent. The Special Magistrate determined the following pertinent facts exist with respect to the cited property: The Property Owner added pavers and concrete at the cited property, which exceeds the limit on its permit. The impervious surface ratio exceeded the 70% surface ratio allowed in the Land Development Code. The property came into compliance after the Notice of Hearing was issued. The Respondent only had a short period of time from the written Notice of hearing to come into compliance. There was no evidence she was notified about the violation in writing prior to May 5, 2025. The Respondent shall maintain full compliance with all ordinances and regulations of the city of Longwood. The Respondent has violated LDC, ARTICLE III SECTION 3.2.0. 7. REPORTS-CASE UPDATES. None. 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS. None. 9. OLD BUSINESS. None. 10. NEW BUSINESS. None. 11. ADJOURN Special Magistrate Goodblatt adjourned the meeting at 10:01 a.m. 7/7 Amy Goodblatt, Special Magistrate Shelly C. B na, ode Complia e Officer 5/22/2025/4