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UNSAFE STRUCTURE - ABANDONED GAS STATION 8980 U.S. #1 WABASSO - CONDEMNATION. DEMOLITION & REMOVAL The Board reviewed a Memorandum of July 3, 1995: TO: James E. Chandler County Administrator DATE: July 3, 1995 SUBJECT: Condemnation, Demolition and Removal of Unsafe Structure: Larry Catton Investments, Inc. Abandoned Gas Station 8980 U.S. Highway 1, Wabasso, Fl THROUGH: Robert M. Seating, Director AMK Community Development Department FROM: Ester L. Rymer, Building Division It is requested that the data herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at its regular meeting of July 11, 1995. DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS: This item was initially presented to the Board of County Commissioners at its regular meeting of June 20, 1995. Because of legal questions regarding liability, the Board directed staff to research this issue in more detail and report back to the Board. Since then, staff from building, planning, road and bridge, environmental health, and the county attorney's office have met and analyzed the situation in more detail. This is the revised staff report. As indicated by staff at the June 20, 1995 Board meeting, the abandoned gas station at 8980 U.S. Highway 1 in Wabasso has been the subject of code enforcement action for over a year. Despite various attempts, staff has been unable to serve the owner with formal notice of code enforcement action. _ In this case, code enforcement would probably be ineffective anyway, because soil contamination has severely reduced the property's value. Consequently, code enforcement staff recently requested that building division staff inspect the property. Upon inspection, building staff condemned the referenced structure and ordered the structure repaired or removed. Said -structure is considered unsafe and detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the general public. As per county code requirements, the owner of the property was issued notices to repair or remove the structure, and advised of his right to appeal the condemnation order before the Indian River County Building Code Board of Adjustments and Appeals. In addition, condemnation cards were posted on the property. Because staff could not obtain legal service on the property owner for the. notice, a public notice was posted at the Indian River County Courthouse. ANALYSIS: The subject structure has been vacant for a considerable time. During that time, the building has continued to deteriorate and has been frequented by vandals and transients. Not only has the owner failed to maintain the structure in compliance with the Minimum Standard Codes, he has failed to bring the structure into compliance as required by posted notice. Since the owner has not filed an appeal to the condemnation order, the County may now proceed with demolition of the structure. 600K 95 FGF 66 7 JULY 119 1995 23