Voting Begins In Beverly Hills' Cheval Blanc Election — What You Need To Know

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Residents can now begin voting early in the special election that will determine the fate of the massive Cheval Blanc project.

A vote center opened Saturday at City Hall, where residents can return mail-in ballots or cast their votes in person through May 23. The ballot includes two questions, measures B and C, both of which concern LVMH's proposed luxury hotel.

The Cheval Blanc Hotel would include up to 115 guest rooms, a pool deck, spa, restaurants and a private club. LVMH — whose enormous holdings include everything from Moët & Chandon to Louis Vuitton — wants to build it on a 1.24-acre property in the Golden Triangle: between Rodeo Drive, Beverly Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard.

Room rates are expected to start at over $1,000 per day and go as high as $20,000 daily for penthouse suites.

The measures ask voters to give the final OK to zoning changes and a development agreement approved by the City Council last year.

Measure B, if approved, would amend city zoning rules to allow for the construction of the hotel, because the proposed project deviates from what the city currently allows:

Measure C, if approved, would codify an agreement between the city and developer meant to provide public benefits to Beverly Hills in exchange for the city's efforts to make the project a reality.

Gross revenue from hotel rooms would be hit by an extra 5 percent surcharge that will go into city coffers, in addition to the existing 14 percent transient occupancy tax that's already levied on hotels.

The developer would additionally pay the city $26 million for schools, police, fire and other services; another $2 million payment earmarked for arts and culture; and commit to maintaining the hotel at a "minimum luxury standard."

Additionally, the agreement stipulates the developer must complete the project within five years. Any delays will require the developer to pay the city $250,000 a month for up to three years.

The measures are a package deal: The zoning changes can only go into effect if voters approve the development agreement.

The City Council in November voted 4-1 in favor of the zoning changes and development agreement, paving the way for voters to make the final decision in this election. Councilmember John Mirisch was the lone dissenter.

Those in favor of the project say they're voting yes because the project will generate $778 million in new tax revenue over 30 years, create an active pedestrian connection between Rodeo Drive and Beverly Drive and create quality jobs, according to the voter information guide.

Those opposed say the project would change the village-like character of the neighborhood because the hotel will be up to nine stories high, create congestion and create a precedent for similar projects bankrolled by monied interests. They also criticized LVMH's hiring of former city officials and lobbyists to bring the project over the finish line, according to the voter guide.

Voters can cast return their mail-in ballots or cast their votes in person at the second-floor Municipal Gallery at City Hall, 455 N. Rexford Drive, daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 23.

You can read the official voter information guide here.