A Villager got prickly during a public hearing over plants too close to his neighbor’s home.
The patio villa of Jude Lagarde at 7851 SE 173rd Panorama Place in the Sherwood Villas in the Village of Chatham was the subject of a public hearing Monday afternoon at the District Office at Brownwood.
In October, a complaint was received about dead plants and plants growing against the side of his neighbor’s wall. Letters were sent to Lagarde, but Community Standards was initially unable to establish contact with him. However, Lagarde reached out on Dec. 29 to report that the property had been brought into compliance. When Community Standards went out and inspected the property, it was determined it was not in compliance.
During the hearing in front of Special Master Terry Neal, Lagarde repeatedly complained about the procedure and the evidence against him. In particular, he disputed the many date-stamped photographs of the violation, submitted as evidence by Community Standards.
“The pictures do not show anything in violation,” Lagarde told the special master.
“Oh yes, they do,” responded Neal, a retired Lake County judge.
He challenged her to come to his home and see for herself. Lagarde also complained that Community Standards’ personnel had not met his demand to contact him prior to an inspection and meet with him in person.
He continued to challenge the special master and criticize the procedures of Community Standards.
“Mr. Lagarde, you’ve got seven day to get those plants trimmed back. If you’re not in compliance, then things start happening,” Judge Neal said.
She noted that Community Standards has indicated the plants need to be at least two feet from his neighbor’s property.
If Lagarde fails to bring his property into compliance within the seven-day limit, he will face a $150 fine and a $100 administrative fee when the District hires a contractor to go in and trim back the plants. The fine and administrative fees will be repeated each time the District’s contractor has to return for trimming.