Pass: 7,972 / 50.41% Yes votes ...... 7,843 / 49.59% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Impartial Analysis from LAURENCE WIENER City Attorney

Measure H asks voters whether to approve a General Plan Amendment that would allow redevelopment of the Beverly Hilton Hotel site. The hotel site is located at the intersection of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards and includes a complex of hotel buildings constructed between 1953 and 1966. In general, the proposed redevelopment would remove 217 hotel rooms from the Beverly Hilton Hotel, add a new 170 room luxury hotel, and add up to 110 condominium units in two new buildings. The following table presents the major changes to the site:

HOTELS

Remaining

• Wilshire Tower
  352 Rooms
  8 stories/95 feet
  402,506 square feet

  Removed

• Palm Court
  181 Rooms
  4 Stories/50 feet
  94,050 square feet
  

• Cabana/Lanai
  36 Rooms
  2 Stories/22 feet
  18,890 square feet
  

  Proposed

• Waldorf Astoria (near Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards intersection)
  170 Rooms
  2 to 12 Stories/136 feet
  207,100 square feet

Proposed

• Building A (near Wilshire Boulevard and Merv Griffin Way intersection)
  26-36 Condominiums
  6 to 8 Stories/70-97 feet (steps up in height away from Wilshire Boulevard)
  108,153 square feet

• Building B (at Santa Monica Boulevard and Merv Griffin Way intersection)
  64-74 Condominiums
  16 to 18 Stories/173-200 feet (steps down in height away from Santa Monica Boulevard)
  263,300 square feet

Remaining

• 818 spaces (5 story structure and underground parking)

  Proposed

• 2,183 spaces (all parking underground, includes 280 spaces on mechanical lifts if required by City)

Fiscal Impact

The City’s Chief Financial Officer estimates that, over 30 years, the proposed redevelopment will generate approximately $390 million more in revenue to the City than the continuation of the existing development. No City funds will be required for additional public facilities or personnel to serve the project, although there will be increased demand for services to the site.

Environmental Impact

The Final Environmental Impact Report prepared for the Project (“FEIR”) identified significant environmental impacts during construction due to construction noise, emissions from construction equipment, and dust. After construction, the FEIR identified significant impacts on aesthetics due to increased development and heights, and significant impacts on cultural resources due to alteration of the existing architecture.

Concerning traffic, the FEIR concluded that the Project, as conditioned, would not have any significant effect on traffic flow during construction or operation. The FEIR estimated that the Project would generate an additional 649 daily vehicle trips after completion, including 84 trips during the afternoon peak hour.

The Project includes improvements to the intersection of Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards and adds a third westbound traffic lane on Santa Monica Boulevard, west of Wilshire Boulevard.

Effect of Vote

A “yes” vote approves the proposed General Plan Amendment. A “no” vote denies the proposed General Plan Amendment.

City of Beverly Hills

Executive Summary

(76-page pdf file)

City of Beverly Hills Press Releases

• Beverly Hills City Council Places Beverly Hilton Revitalization Plan on the November 4, 2008 Ballot - July 9, 2008