The Cost of removing the substandard structure from the property is estimated to be $17,500.00. If the county abatement officer performs the work of abatement and the property owner does not pay, the actual cost of the work and all administrative costs may be imposed as a lien on the property after notice and a hearing, and may be collected as an assessment against the property.
The Department of Conservation and Development received a complaint that the structure in question moves (sways) during storms. Inspection of the structure revealed extensive rot and deterioration of the piers that provide structural support. The structure can be moved by pushing against the side. Due to the danger created by the poor structural condition of the building, a “yellow tag” notice was placed on structure on August 20, 2008 to limit entry and provide notice of the risks associated with entrance.
Following the County’s standard process in such circumstances, on August 26, 2008, the owner was issued a Notice to Comply (NTC) requesting removal of the structure or submittal of an application for a building permit to correct the deficiencies. To obtain such a permit, the owner would be required to address several conflicts with land use restrictions, including the inconsistency of a second residential structure on an F-1 zoned parcel and restrictions on building into a navigable waterway. Furthermore, the required structural improvements would require construction on a levee managed by the Bethel Island Municipal Improvement District (BIMID), which has indicated it would be disinclined to approve an application to repair the structure because areas of the levee under the residence could not be accessed for repairs or improvements.
After the owner failed to comply with the requirements of the initial NTC within the specified time period, a second NTC was sent to the property owner detailing the submittal and approval requirements for correcting the deficiencies on the property. Following failure of the owner to comply with the second NTC, staff proceeded with the standard noticing process by posting a Notice of Intent to Record (NOI) and sample Notice of Pending Nuisance Abatement (NPA) on November 20, 2008. The recorded NPA was posted on December 17, 2008. An Abatement Order was posted on February 18, 2008.
To date, the property owners have not submitted any requested information for bringing the structure into code compliance.