(CNN) – Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney cleared a final hurdle Friday in building a new house in California, a house that will include a four-car garage with an elevator for the vehicles.
Romney had already gotten zoning permission from the city of San Diego to demolish the 3,100 square foot home he owns in the La Jolla neighborhood and erect an 11,000 square foot mansion in its place. Plans for the home were put on hold until after the 2012 election.
A neighbor had appealed the city's decision to the California Coastal Commission. He argued in commission filings that the new home would have exceeded zoning limits that say square footage cannot exceed a certain calculation based on acreage of the plot of land the house sits on.
The Coastal Commission rejected that appeal Friday. Barring a lawsuit, construction can now move forward, according to commission spokesperson Sarah Christie.
Romney, the multimillionaire former governor of Massachusetts, drew significant heat from his opponents during the 2012 election for his wealth. They charged that Romney's estimated $250 million fortune put him out of touch with average Americans and a car elevator crystallized that message for many.
–CNN's Bryan Koenig and Chuck Johnston contributed to this report.
Absolutely a statement on America today.
Heaven forbid people who are extremely successful in life use the money they've earned.
Is this news? It's his money; he can do whatever he wants
"The Coastal Commission rejected that appeal Friday." Imagine that. I'm sure Romney wasn't able to BUY his way around it.....
Wow, he's just like us!
HEARD ABOUT THESE RENEGADE NUCLEAR GENERALS? You should check out PARKVILLE MISSOURI just to see
how all these things are bred on the internet and otherwise: a hotbed hidden in the "out of the way" MIDWEST....
A very odd collection – like Ron Paul Snowdens and odd exchange student resumes... "its all in the training" –
They train POLICE and FIRE > what a town: hidden from view of all of you. 🙂
I thought Romney was in France.. at the first signs of trouble.
How did the elevator crystallize the message during the '12 election if he just got it Friday? And did this really take 2 people to write? Typical product and slant, which is unfortunate as I grew up watching CNN.
I am from Canada Mitt however was cheering for you all the way. The government would not be where it is today had you been voted in. Too bad the Democrats withheld the knowledge they had on Bengazhi and the top military man that was having an affair – Everything would have changed. I really wish you would try for President one more time. Remember it is Strike 3 and you are out – not Strike 2.
so george clooney has 4 houses big deal
Who needs a car elevator and for what? So he can drive it through his second floor living room?
Let's be honest, Mitt Romney - and many of his supporters - were born on third base and think they hit a triple. – Robert Creamer
Well, I know at least two people who think Romney is 'out of touch': CNN's Bryan Koenig and Chuck Johnston
La Jolla is on a cliff – this building is going in the drink!
I can't fault him for a car elevator. If I had the money, I would have one too...
For crying out loud...he can't drive the car up the stairs.
He is living in his own world not bothering about anything else..
This is the guy who tried in vain to convince us that he is "just one of us." Wonder why that didn't go over?
Mitt the Twitt is pathetic, good thing he did not make President as he is out of tune with the world!!!
Disgruntled neighbor doesn't have as much wheel grease as Romney when it comes to zoning.
Disgruntled neighbor doesn't have as much wheel grease as Romney when it comes to matters like zoning.
"Out of touch with average Americans?" Pelosi and her husband are BILLIONAIRES! Of course we all know she really is out of touch.
Money can work wonders.
Why do the editors consider this to be "news"? I trimmed the shrubs in my yard and mowed my grass yesterday. "Stop the presses!"
Scary this out of touch politician could have been president.... scary.