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Homeowner is told to demolish his lakeside $3 million mansion because it was built too close to road (despite city granting him an EXEMPTION): Quebec judge sides with neighbors in eight-year battle
Daily Mail ^ | July 25, 2021 | Peter Belfiore

Posted on 07/25/2021 9:59:49 AM PDT by rickmichaels

A judge has ruled that a $3million luxury home in Quebec, Canada, built less than ten years ago must be demolished and the local city will need to pay for it.

The ruling is the latest in a roughly eight-year legal saga that began when the home was built too close to the street, violating local zoning laws in the city of Gatineau.

The judge's decision overrules an exemption the city gave the homeowner in a bid to keep the mansion as-is.

In his ruling this week, Quebec Superior Court Judge Michel Deniel said owner Patrick Molla had every reason to believe his home met building code requirements when the city granted him permits to build in May 2013, the Canadian Press reported.

That September, however, the city discovered that the planning official who approved the permits made an error when they allowed construction to go forward on the home, which is about 23 feet from the street. Homes must be built at least 51 feet away from the street, according to local bylaws.

Instead of telling Molla to stop construction on the home, however, the city allowed it to go forward, telling him that the problem would be taken care of. In February, 2014, Molla's family moved into the home, and in July, 2014 it granted him a 'minor exemption' to keep it in compliance.

Deniel's ruling override's Gatineau's exemption, and says there was likely little choice except for it to be torn down.

He sided with neighbors who complained the property was out of character with the rest of the neighborhood and argued that the city's exemption was an illegal abuse of power.

'Had he known the risk of eventual demolition, he would not have continued issued Moll construction on Sept. 25, 2013,' Deniel said in his ruling.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


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To: rickmichaels

Nice house. And on the water. Wow. Doesn’t look too close to the street to me.
The neighbors have no taste.


41 posted on 07/25/2021 11:09:28 AM PDT by nuconvert ( Warning: Accused of being a radical militarist. Approach with caution.)
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https://www.cherryhousemoving.com/


42 posted on 07/25/2021 11:14:09 AM PDT by Mr.FixIt (Ethanol: Growing in four months what the U.S.A. burns in one day)
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To: PeterPrinciple
The reporter really dropped the ball there. If the city has to pay for the demolition then that will ultimately be a tax on the citizens who asked for the demo.

What goes around, comes around.

43 posted on 07/25/2021 11:14:14 AM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear (This is not a tagline.)
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To: discostu

Looks like it was built in Minecraft.


44 posted on 07/25/2021 11:15:59 AM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (RIP my "teddy bear". )
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To: discostu

Ditto!


45 posted on 07/25/2021 11:18:18 AM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another Sam Adams now that we desperately need him?)
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To: George from New England

He’s making the CITY pay for the CITY’s mistake though.


46 posted on 07/25/2021 11:19:06 AM PDT by for-q-clinton (Cancel Culture IS fascism...Let's start calling it that!)
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear

They may call this a mansion, but it is one ugly house.


47 posted on 07/25/2021 11:21:49 AM PDT by Blennos ( )
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To: HartleyMBaldwin

you may be able to get 2 or three armored bulldozers for 3 million

that won’t over heat on you when you need them, or drop a tread


48 posted on 07/25/2021 11:22:11 AM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Blennos

Yep.


49 posted on 07/25/2021 11:24:02 AM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (RIP my "teddy bear". )
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To: rickmichaels

You can’t undo exemptions. Never heard of it and been in the business 50+ years.


50 posted on 07/25/2021 11:29:12 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: rickmichaels

Even when the gov makes a mistake, you lose and they win.

The gov thinks you don’t own your property and will do everything in its power to make sure you know that.


51 posted on 07/25/2021 11:29:22 AM PDT by I want the USA back (To find out who really rules you, find out who you're not allowed to criticize. Voltaire. )
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To: billorites

I noticed that as well. Powerlines? Seriously?


52 posted on 07/25/2021 11:40:37 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (I love my country. It's my government that I hate.)
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To: Wuli

As I think about it, the owner knew from the very start that his plans for the house violated the setback requirement. I would’ve left well enough alone and not have sought the waiver. But he did, and he got it. Only to realize years later the word of the Government is useless.

I’m not blaming the owner, but he did screw up. He trusted them.


53 posted on 07/25/2021 11:45:58 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (I love my country. It's my government that I hate.)
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To: rickmichaels
A judge has ruled that a $3million luxury home in Quebec, Canada, built less than ten years ago must be demolished and the local city will need to pay for it.

Rather than pay 3 million loonies, I bet the city could get off cheaper by paying a few of his closest neighbors $100K.

54 posted on 07/25/2021 11:57:25 AM PDT by ETCM
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To: Secret Agent Man

A brand-new D-11 is running upwards of $2 million, a new D-10 about half that. Three million should easily cover several used machines, though, with all of the armor and other necessary modifications. Hiring operators might be another matter entirely.


55 posted on 07/25/2021 12:00:13 PM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: PeterPrinciple

Maybe it would be cheaper to move the street?


56 posted on 07/25/2021 12:00:43 PM PDT by fhayek
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To: rickmichaels

rich people think that rules don’t apply to them


57 posted on 07/25/2021 12:26:19 PM PDT by RockyTx
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To: Secret Agent Man

Is dropping a tread anything like throwing a track?


58 posted on 07/25/2021 12:35:07 PM PDT by skepsel
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To: rickmichaels
That house looks like a monstrosity. It reminds me of those cubic condos in Montreal which originally served as housing for the ‘76’ Olympics. On the TV they did not look so bad but once I saw them in person I was horrified.

Reminiscent of the Soviet style of 1960’s architecture.

59 posted on 07/25/2021 12:41:44 PM PDT by Radix (Natural Born Citizens have Citizen parents.)
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To: rickmichaels

If you look at the other two homes in the picture it does look out of place and also looks too close to street.


60 posted on 07/25/2021 12:46:59 PM PDT by alternatives?
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