The state Coastal Commission has cleared the way for former presidential candidate Mitt Romney to raze his La Jolla oceanside mansion and build another more than triple its size.
The Commission voted 7-4 Oct. 11 to deny an appeal by a former neighbor challenging a construction permit granted for Romney’s dwelling.
Romney plans to demolish his 3,100-square-foot home and replace it with a new 11,000-square-foot, two-story home over a basement with a pool, spa, retaining walls and seawall on his property, which is under half an acre.
The appeal was brought by Anthony Ciani, a property owner across from Romney, who opposed his expansion plans, contending the project would be out of scale with the neighborhood, impede views, block public beach access and adversely impact water quality. Ciani’s appeal also challenged the Romney’s claim that they own the beach in front of their home, which adds 6,000 feet to their lot size, allowing them to build a larger home than they would otherwise be entitled.
Commission staff determined the home wasn’t bulky or out of scale with the neighborhood, given that a large part of its 11,000 square feet was taken up by an underground garage. Staff concluded the Romney home’s expansion didn’t block public views, met the city’s floor-area ratio requirement and that it would be safe from waves and not adversely impact water quality.