"Dave" wrote

Dan, I'm sorry that you feel he must cave in and just take it on the chin
because his neighbor has some problem.

He is 100% right that there is potential for the city's position to become
even more firm by fighting the ruling. If that does happen, the
implications for homebuilders in the whole country could be dire.

The reality is that for what ever reason, the city sided with the neighbor.
It is not worth the chance of making life more difficult for homebuilders
across the whole country.

It is time to take one for the team, on this one. Build onto the house, and
continue work inside, and store unused projects at a friend's house in the
country, or in a mini storage building. Let AOPA or EAA try to reverse the
problem. For now, his goose is cooked.
--
Jim in NC