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Neighbours on that drive — who live in homes that average 6,200 square feet — balked at the project, then Aquilini retracted the proposal “so that I can sit down with them to redesign my home in a way that best addresses their concerns,” as he put it in a 2015 statement issued to Postmedia News via a public relations firm.

The Loma Linda Holdings project now calls for buildings on two lots at 1184 and 1193 Loma Linda Drive. As of March 6, the proposed development on the former property had gone through 10 rounds of review through the city’s plan review process, according to city documents. The latter had gone through 11 rounds. Neither had yet been approved.

Loma Linda Holdings claimed in recent court documents that “the city’s refusal to issue a building permit is intentional, and is designed to delay the 1184 project such that it will be subject to the basement ordinance, in which case a building permit cannot be issued.” Its injunction bid was denied this week, the Courier reported.

However, the ordinance in question could be suspended and ultimately recalled by way of referendum if 2,049 people sign the ongoing petition, according to the Courier.

Richards said he has not seen anyone solicit petitions in his neighbourhood. Instead, he believes the signature gatherers are working the flats south of Sunset Boulevard, where people are dispassionate about the issue, he said.

Richards said his interest in the project and that of his neighbours is simple.

“It’s totally uncourteous to build a house that big.”

mrobinson@postmedia.com

— With research from Postmedia librarian Carolyn Soltau.

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