The Coppell Building and Standards Commission on Oct. 2 directed the owner of 631 Stratford Lane to obtain a licensed structural engineer inspection and report and to pull required building permits within 30 days; staff also ordered abatement of rodents and a 60-day deadline to complete repairs. City staff told the commission the house appears to have foundation cracking, rodent infestation and interior demolition, and has been the subject of repeated complaints since 2021.

Desiree described the property as a two-story, roughly 5,000-square-foot home in Stratford Manor with a market value the city estimated at about $1 million. She said staff had documented open pipes, extensive interior gutting, rodent droppings and a crack that "extends from the top of the structure all the way down to the bottom," which could indicate foundation shifting. "At this point, I'm gonna request that an order for repair be issued," Desiree said, recommending 30 days to obtain permits and an engineering report and 60 days to complete repairs; she said the city would seek demolition if the owner did not follow the timeline.

City Attorney Bob Hager outlined the proposed order and cautioned against an unrealistically short deadline requested by some neighbors. "As the city attorney, I would not recommend a different timeline," Hager said when asked about tightening the 30-day requirement. He confirmed the order would require a structural-engineer report within 30 days, rodent abatement, and permit pulling; failure to meet those 30-day requirements would trigger a request for demolition authority.

Several neighbors testified in support of a firm timeline. Jason Ramey, who lives across the street, said: "We have had multiple instances of people trespassing on the property late at night." Other residents described repeated trespass, smells, rat activity and children walking past the house on the neighborhood school route; one neighbor asked whether the timeline could be shortened but Hager said 30 days was the legally reasonable minimum.

The commission approved an order requiring permits and an engineer report within 30 days, rodent abatement, and repair completion within 60 days; the order states that if the owner fails to comply with any 30-day requirement, the city will pursue demolition and recover costs by lien if necessary. Code enforcement staff said they will pursue immediate abatement of rodents and high grass under existing notice processes while the repair timeline proceeds.

Neighbors were encouraged to report trespassing; staff said they could request extra police patrols and would provide legal referrals for homeowners associations seeking civil remedies.