I know it's really popular to beat up the big bad developers and hold them to a higher standard of behavior than just about anyone else on the face of the earth...but if they didn't have a county commission that gave the go-ahead and told them their plans could legally proceed, this wouldn't have happened. I'm sick and tired of people beating up on business and launching lawsuits at the deepest pockets.
If I build a fence or garage on my neighbor's land, or otherwise intrude on it, I'll have to tear it down, or compensate my neighbor in some way that is acceptable to him. If my attorney tells me I have the right to do so, and a court later disagrees, that is tough noogies for me.
I fail to see why a large developer shouldn't be held to the same standard. He, and the county commission, apparently got bad legal advice.
If you believe that developers don't have more political clout than the average property owner, or that politicians don't frequently approve projects on the assumption that the property owner won't be able to fight City Hall, regardless of how good their case is, I think you need to get out more.