Oh, I understand planning commissions. What I don't understand is how he snuck it past them while obtaining a building permit. Normally the two go hand in hand. From the description in the article it doesn't look like he had a building permit, much less inspections. That is a greater evil than whether or not it clashed with the neighbors.

Looking through the website you provided on the local jurusdiction, getting a building permit was definitely a requirement. If the planning commission didn't pick up on it while he obtained the permit, than they are partially at fault, though there is certainly intent to deceive, but I doubt they could force him to demolish it.

If he built the whole thing without permit or inspection, than that is another matter altogether and at a minimum they will probably require him to strip the inside down to the studs and have it inspected.