Beverly Hills Pushes Back On 5-Story Apartment Building On Doheny

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — A planned five-story apartment building on Doheny Drive marks a dramatic departure from what Beverly Hills rules would ordinarily allow in that area, eliciting negative feedback from some members of the Planning Commission at a recent meeting. The only problem — city officials' hands are largely tied when it comes to shaping the project thanks to state mandates that supersede city laws.

Still, the Planning Commission seemed to hold out hope that the project would be made smaller and fit in better with the nearby lowrise residential buildings. The board declined to make any decision on the proposal at its April 13 meeting. The public hearing for the project will continue on June 8, when the board members hope the developer will return with modifications that will soothe their concerns — but its unclear exactly what they're hoping for.

It's also unclear if the board has any sway over the details of the project, which is being proposed under state laws that allow bigger-than-usual projects near transit stops and ones that incorporate affordable housing.

Proposed is a five-story, nine-unit apartment building with 12 parking spaces. One unit will be designed for a very-low income tenant. Some commissioners wished the building was smaller, out of concern for its ability to fit into the neighborhood and limit the shadows it casts. Others wanted to see more parking spaces.

But applicant Daniel Ahadian poined out that there are no minimum required number of parking spaces for this project, the state permissions allow for the taller building and the commission is likely not able to offer input on the impact of shadows on neighboring buildings. City officials are generally only able to push back on these types of projects on safety grounds.

"There should be a bill of particulars. It think it's within our rights to have a bill of particulars," project architect Stephen Albert said.

But that request didn't go over well.

"I react very poorly to the notion that I have to give you a bill of particulars. I'm not going to do that. I want to understand what the rules are a little better than I do," Commissioner Peter Ostroff said.

Albert took issue with that: Without particulars, the architect said his team would be left to guess what changes would allow the project to get the Planning Commission's blessing.

The project is covered under state rules, including a density bonus program, meant to alleviate the housing crisis and limit cities' ability to stymie projects based on restrictive zoning rules. City officials across the state bemoan the rules, which have been subject to extensive litigation.