City admits error but says homeowner must pay

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ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) Albuquerque homeowner Johnny Robinson claims the City of Albuquerque ruined his life, and he is not being shy about it.

Outside his Northeast Albuquerque home near San Pedro Drive and Topke Place, Robinson placed a large sign claiming so, but its not just the sign that catches the attention of passerbys. Its the two-story, 5,400 square foot unfinished mammoth of a house that neighbors gawk at.

The poor man, hes like living in a third world country, neighbor Manuel Gonzales said.

Robinson, a contractor, started renovating his house after the city planning department approved his building blueprints in October 2008. His plan was to add a second story and a third garage to the existing 1,600 square foot home he lives in with his teenage son.

I know what Im doing in terms of building it, but with all the paperwork and stuff, I relied on the city to make sure everything I was doing was right, Robinson said. I made sure, I was down there all the time, asking questions.

Robinson said a city official told him that he needed to request a variance with approval from neighbors if renovations came close to the property line the two homes share. Robinson said he received a signed and notarized document from his neighbor, granting permission to build near the property line. Documents Robinson provided KRQE News 13 show the city planning department granted another building permit in April 2011.

Construction was well underway, when in October 2011, after Robinson poured more than $200,000 into renovations, city officials told him he was breaking city code.

Right before I put the shingles on, they came and red-tagged me and told me to stop work, Robinson said.

City Attorney David Tourek said Robinsons house is too close to the property line. Tourek said city code states homeowners must be within 15 feet of the property line, but Robinson is within 3 feet. Tourek said even though the city initially approved the plans, it was done in error and it is Robinsons responsibility to make it right.

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City admits error but says homeowner must pay