Could the outlets be installed just below the countertop, in the face of the cabinet? Yes that would be ugly as hell, but most accommodations for the handicapped are.
But it's for a multi-unit building with dozens of places, so this adds a lot of cost because now, rather than using off-the-shelf components ("casework" to use the industry term), they have to hire a woordworker to go in and manually modify each one, at probably 80-100/hr. Not great.
Is this the first time such a counter-top has been made?
Surely someone must have run into this problem before. How could there be no standard component that meets regulations, which have presumably existed for awhile?
I don't know of any other place that has this "outlets within X inches of counter edge" requirement, or really any accessibility requirement imposed in a blanket fashion on residential construction. Since that means most accessibility builds and mods are custom by nature, there is no market for standard components for most things. Tubs and showers are the main thing I can think of off the top of my head.
There are plenty of narrower countertops, and plenty of kitchen systems with e.g. suitable corner cabinets that would make the countertop narrow enough in the corner to fit the requirements. This is only a problem because they have chosen or want a solution that have painted them into a corner without thinking about the requirements.
The requirements may not be entirely well thought through, but complying with those two is not difficult.
So your initial claim was a gross exaggeration. You initially said there was no "constructible" countertop at all, thus making it impossible to build. Now you are saying it's not only constructible, it's possible to comply by modifying off-the-shelf components.
I hope your critique of the bans on plastic bags and happy meal toys is stronger than this.
It depends on the municipality but the code usually requires an outlet every 18" to 24" on or above the countertop for small appliances so no, such a modification would not bring the installation up to code.
Unless the countertop near the corner has a depth of 18" or less, it would be very difficult to fulfill all requirements.
That construction is still quite expensive and must look hideous. Sounds like a typical well-meaning regulation that's made without considering the consequences.
