Pastore

BACKGROUND

As described in our decision in the related appeal (Pastore v. County of Santa Cruz, No. H042688, filed herewith), County issued an order in April 2014 abating a nuisance on property of which plaintiff is the record owner. The nuisance consisted of grading and land-clearing, without a permit, for purposes of cultivating medical cannabis. On July 24, after an administrative hearing, a hearing officer affirmed the order and directed that plaintiff abate the nuisance. The order provided that if plaintiff failed to abate the nuisance in a timely manner, the planning director was authorized “to cause the abatement of the public nuisance . . . and . . . report on the abatement costs pursuant to Santa Cruz County Code section 1.14.050.” The last-cited section authorizes imposition of a special assessment on property to recover costs incurred by County in abating a nuisance after the landowner has failed to do so. (Santa Cruz County Code, tit. 1 § 1.14.050.) On November 26, 2014, a county hearing officer issued a decision and order finding abatement costs of $18,962.45 and making them a special assessment lien against plaintiff’s property, to be recorded within 21 days if not…