A Villager was called to a deed compliance hearing on Monday over magnets on his garage door, a recurring violation.
Community Standards first received a complaint about non-seasonal magnets on the garage door of Dennis McGrath-Wagner’s home on Webster Way in the Village of Pine Ridge on March 20, according to testimony presented by Community Standards at the hearing Monday afternoon at the Brownwood District Office. The home was brought into compliance on March 31, but they received another complaint regarding magnets on the garage door on June 22.
Director of Resident Services Matthew Armstrong described the magnets as a “hodgepodge” of various things the first time, including baseball and all 50 states, that decorated the garage door around St. Patrick’s Day. The second violation included all 50 states once again. However, all magnets have since been taken down.
At the hearing, McGrath-Wagner said he thought the decorations were misunderstood. He believed the baseball magnets in March were seasonal, because March is baseball season. He put the state magnets up to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary all year, removed them after the complaint in March and put them back up for the Fourth of July. He stated he did this not to be defiant, but to celebrate.
“I’ve been trying to be more compliant than ever, especially since people tend to call on me the second something happens,” said McGrath-Wagner.
Earlier this month, his neighbors packed a special meeting of the Community Development District 11 Board of Supervisors to complain about his display of flags and invasive lights. Villager Sheila Davis outlined the annoying problems at the home in a recent opinion piece.
The hearing concluded with the home being found in compliance, meaning no fines will be imposed. But if McGrath-Wagner violates the same rule within 12 months of the hearing’s date, it will be considered a repeat violation.
Special Master Terry Neal, a retired Lake County judge, advised that there might be a clearer way other than stars and baseball magnets to celebrate the holidays in the meantime.