City staff reviews condemnation and demolition procedures; board asks about sequencing and maintenance enforcement

Sean Koss, interim community response director and code enforcement official, briefed the Fort Pierce Historic Preservation Board on the city’s updated condemnation and demolition procedures during the March 23 meeting.

Koss described the process as phased: the building department initiates condemnation by inspection and a notice of violation; if unsafe, the department prepares an affidavit of unsafe structure that is recorded with the county clerk and provided to the historic preservation officer. If demolition appears necessary, code enforcement conducts a lien search, notifies interested parties and the city commission adopts a resolution to set a public hearing date. After the commission’s action and any appeal period, the historic preservation board is asked to consider a COA for demolition; following final notices and verification that no appeal bonds or permits have been filed, the city authorizes a vendor to obtain demolition permits and proceed.

Board members asked why the historic board sometimes reviews demolition after the city commission and whether appeals return to the commission; Koss said the sequence can vary (sometimes the historic review occurs prior to commission action) and described the practical interplay between the commission and the board. Members also raised an example of a partially demolished building and asked whether the board can pursue affirmative maintenance actions to address willful neglect; staff said planning and counsel would look into how the matter could be brought forward and to what body.

Koss’s presentation referenced a city resolution adopting the procedure (noted in the presentation as Resolution 25‑R‑65) and outlined timelines, notice periods and the administrative steps that follow a commission determination. The board asked staff to investigate a specific property and return with options for a future agenda item.

The briefing is intended to clarify responsibilities among building inspection, code enforcement, planning and the historic preservation officer so board members understand pathways to remediation and demolition when needed.