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The original was posted on /r/maliciouscompliance by /u/SkaneatelesMan on 2024-07-09 14:04:33+00:00.
We were prohibited from renovating two "historic", but very primitive and neglected 1890 cottages on a lakeside lot. A complete renovation of 2 homes on one lot required a zoning and septic variance, which the town refused. The town really didn't want us to make any exterior renovations, and we wanted to join the two houses by installing bathrooms between them, making one house from two. The board said they were not prohibiting the renovations, we were just limited to renovating no more than 20% of each home each year, as limited by town law, requiring 10 years to complete. Insane.
Our attorney pointed out that no variance was required if we tore down the 2 old houses and built just 1 new house (regardless of size) if we stayed within the footprint of the original buildings. Neither of the permits to demolish and build new required town board approval. The town compliance officer had no choice but to grant both permits, much to the annoyance of the town board, which wanted the "historic" buildings to stay.
To top it off, by forcing us to build a new home used 12 months of the year, the town was forced to improve the town owned road so that it could be plowed in winter. Revenge.