A homeowner was told to demolish his $3million home only eight years after it was constructed.
The judge reportedly ruled that the mansion in Quebec, Canada, must be demolished and paid for by the local city.
His decision overrules an exemption the city gave the homeowner Patrick Molla in order to keep his mansion.
But in the ruling this week, Quebec Superior Court Judge said Molla had every reason to believe his property met building code requirements after he was granted permits to build in May 2013.
But that September, the city found out that the official who approved the permits made an error as the house is about 23 feet from the street.
According to local bylaws, homes must be built at least 51 feet from the street.
But instead of telling Mola to stop the construction, the city let him continue and told him that the issue would be handled.
In 2014, Molla and his family moved into the home, and in July, he was granted a ‘minor exemption’ to keep his property in compliance.
But the latest ruling override’s Gatineau’s exemption as Deniel sided with neighbors who argued that the exemption was an illegal abuse of power and complained the house was out of character with the rest of the neighborhood.
“Had he known the risk of eventual demolition, he would not have continued issued Moll construction on Sept. 25, 2013,” Deniel said.
“Reassuring him about this technical error which will be corrected by a minor exemption at the expense of the city, he continues to invest his “retirement fund” in his house to the tune of approximately $3 million,” Deniel continued.
The city asked the court not to order the demolition of the home but Deniel said that it hadn’t offered other alternatives.
The attorney representing the neighbor who complained said his clients are happy with the ruling. “They are happy with the decision,” he told the Canadian Press. “They ask that their privacy be respected.”
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