Belvedere developer fined $100,000 for unsanctioned work

The owners of an embattled Bella Vista Avenue property that’s been under construction since 2016 have been slapped with a $100,000 fine for unsanctioned work and could face even larger fines if the project isn’t completed by early next year. The Belvedere Planning Commission voted unanimously to impose the maximum fine for work done without prior approval on the lower level of 130 Bella Vista Ave. With the vote, commissioners also approved a retroactive design review and an exception to total floor area for the project. At their Aug. 21 meeting, several commissioners said it seemed the owner and contractor, Kurt Steil, intentionally went around the city and excavated an additional 1,437-square-foot livable area in the lower level of the home that was meant to be an unimproved crawl space.

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