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Highlands Today

Tension Exists Between Some Residents, Home Businesses

Bill Rettew Jr./Highlands Today

Joanne and Paul Heinsohn, of Highlands Park Estates near Lake Placid, seek peace and quiet, but instead complain about noise and road damage from tractor trailor truck traffic and what they say is a nearby commercial business in a residential neighborhood.

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By Bill Rettew Jr. | Highlands Today

Published: December 15, 2007

LAKE PLACID — Everybody dreams.

Many dream of running their own business, while others dream of owning their own home. Sometimes those two wishes conflict.

Five years ago, Joanne and Paul Heinsohn moved into Highlands Park Estates and sought peace and quiet.

During the past two years, Joanne Heinsohn has called the Highlands County Code Enforcement Office eight to 10 times with complaints that a truck trailer is parked in the neighborhood.

In February, that neighbor received a warning citation from the county for parking a truck trailer in a residential area, and was given seven days to comply.

Since then, code enforcement officers investigated four times and found no infractions, until Thursday, when a pair of warning citations were issued to a woman who answered the door for a truck parked in a residential area and for debris in the front yard.

April Hartseil, Highlands County interim lead code enforcement officer, said on Friday, that if the homeowner fails to comply and is found in violation after Jan. 1, 2008, a fine of $50 a day might be levied for the truck and $100 a day for the debris.

Hartseil also said that several local businesses legally operate in residentially zoned areas of the county.

Twelve county residents filed complaints concerning residential businesses between Dec. 1, 2006 and Dec. 1, 2007, said the interim lead code enforcement officer.

Complaints investigated by the code enforcement department included one for a garage sale, trailer construction, agricultural pallet construction in a garage and school Hartseil noted that if all county rules are followed, businesses such as home beauty salons are acceptable, if appointments are staggered and no more than one vehicle at a time parks on the property.

"Professional people are going to comply, but sometimes they just don't know the code," said Hartseil. "People will move to a different (zoning) district. If you're in business, that's what you do."

The city of Sebring requires a business tax receipt for a home business and most of the rules are similar to county regulations. The fee is $26, plus a $5 administrative cost, totaling $31.25.

Avon Park and Lake Placid both require permits for all businesses within the municipal border. Lake Placid charges $30 per year for an occupational license and Avon Park uses a sliding fee scale based on the type of business called a "local business tax receipt," which starts at a low cost of $3.

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