Mitt Romney gets go-ahead for huge La Jolla mansion

The state Coastal Commission Friday cleared the way for Mitt Romney to demolish his 3,100-square-foot oceanfront home in La Jolla to build an 11,000-square-foot mansion, despite a former neighbor's attempt to stop it.

The San Diego Planning Commission's approval in June of the former Massachusetts governor and Republican presidential candidate's planned redevelopment to the Dunemere Drive home was appealed to the state Coastal Commission by architect Anthony Ciani, who built a home that sits kitty-corner to Romney's property.

Because Romney's property fronts the ocean, the Coastal Commission had the ultimate say on what can and cannot be built there. The commission voted 7-4 to deny the appeal of the permit for the construction of the two-story house over a basement, with a pool, spa, retaining walls and seawall on a lot that is less than a half-acre.

Commissioner Greg Cox, who's also a San Diego County supervisor, said the project would be below the permissible height and a substantial majority of the 11,000 square feet would be in the subterranean garage, making it "very compatible with the development that's in that neighborhood."

http://www.cbs8.com/story/23669500/mitt-romney-gets-go-ahead-for-huge-la-jolla-mansion

Guess ol' Mitt's not sweating the government shutdown and debt limit increase effects.