A Lake City magistrate on Aug. 14 ordered Global Lion Ministries to apply for a certificate of appropriateness within 15 days for a solid fence installed at 341 South Marion Avenue, in the city’s historic district, and ordered payment of mailing costs of $19.97. If the application is not filed within 15 days a $50-per-day fine will begin to accrue starting on the 16th day.

City staff testified that the solid fence creates visibility hazards at nearby intersections and that no permit had been applied for. The city’s growth-management official said the property is inside the historic district and therefore “anywhere in the Historical District is required to have a certificate of appropriateness application be filed with our office.” The magistrate adopted the city’s requested remedy, giving the property owner 15 days to file the application and awarding postage costs.

Why it matters: the order requires the property owner to start the formal historic-preservation review process and addresses a potential traffic-visibility hazard near intersections by prompting administrative review and possible modification of the fence.

Owner response: Kurzius Andre, who identified himself at the hearing as the property representative, said he was willing to work with city staff and expressed concern for children’s safety near the property. City staff told Andre that the certificate application is free and directed him to the planning/zoning technician who handles historic-district matters.

Discussion and context: city staff referenced a recent ordinance establishing permitting requirements for commercial fences and cited the city’s land-development rules on intersection visibility and the certificate-of-appropriateness requirement. Staff also raised that the business at the site lacked a city business tax receipt; city staff offered to help Andre with that separate administrative step.

Next steps: the owner must file the certificate-of-appropriateness application within 15 days and work with city planning staff; if not received a daily fine and mailing costs will be assessed as ordered by the magistrate.