Ann Romney Makes Surprise Council Talk About La Jolla Property

Ann Romney was a surprise speaker at Tuesday's San Diego City Council meeting, accusing city officials of providing inaccurate information about her plan to redevelop a La Jolla beachfront home.

The wife of former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney—who took heat for the couple's plans to include a car elevator in the redeveloped home—spoke for about two minutes during the public comment portion of the meeting, as first reported by San Diego blogger Gayle Falkenthal at the Washington Times.

"Noting that she 'and my husband, Mitt' strongly support transparent government and public participation, she urged council members 'to make sure that stronger protections are put in place so that in the future, permits are processed efficiently and correctly and the public is afforded the proper notice and opportunity to be heard,' ” Falkenthal wrote.

Romney said a hearing officer's decision about the coastal and site development for the $8.7 million home at 311 Dunemere Dr. was appealed because of potential problems with the public notice, according to a U-T San Diego report.

The plans call for tearing down the 3,000-square foot home and replacing it with another more than triple the size.

Falkenthal reported that the project was approved on May 31.