The Beverly Hills Planning Commission on Oct. 9 conditionally approved plans for three new Builder's Remedy projects, all located on or near the corner of Olympic Boulevard and South Beverly Drive.
Plans include an 8-story mixed-use development at 9467 Olympic Blvd., another 8-story mixed-use development at 333-353 S. Beverly Dr. and a 13-story mixed-use development at 9441 Olympic Blvd. All three properties belong to Samuel Aflalo of Olympic & Beverly, LLC and Fisch Properties, LP
“We appreciate the diligence of staff and also the city attorney regarding the project,” Ryan Leaderman, an attorney representing the projects, said at the Oct. 9 meeting. “As you know, we are in a housing crisis. The city's population has actually declined over the last 50 years, and with that in mind, that's one of the reasons we need to tighten housing laws now.”
All three new developments take advantage of California's Builder's Remedy law, which allows new developments to bypass certain municipal building and zoning regulations in return for providing affordable housing units if a city does not have an approved residential development element.
There are currently 14 Builder's Remedy projects in various stages of development in Beverly Hills.
Plans for the projects at Olympic Boulevard and South Beverly Drive were submitted in September 2024. The 9467 Olympic Blvd. The property, currently used as a grocery store and parking lot, will house an 85-foot-tall building, with 17,085 square feet dedicated to commercial and restaurant use.
Of the 105 residential units in the building, 21 are reserved for low-income households. The remainder, which will be available at market rate, will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The facility will feature a rooftop courtyard, private balconies and three levels of underground parking with 180 spaces.
The development on the approximately 38,500-square-foot site on South Beverly Drive, currently used for office and parking space, will also include an 85-foot building, 16,099 square feet of which will be dedicated to commercial and restaurant use.
The 135 units available include 27 for low-income households and a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units available at market rate. Three underground parking levels will provide 263 parking spaces, and the building will include a fitness room, a community room and a rooftop courtyard with a pool.
At just over 143 feet, the project is located at 9441 Olympic Blvd. will be the highest of the three. There is currently a two-story office building on the site. Once the redevelopment is completed, it will have over 4,000 square meters of commercial space and 15 of the 75 residential units will be intended for low-income households.
Echoing the sentiments of many Beverly Hills residents who will be affected by Builder's Remedy projects in the city, 24 households from a nearby block of El Camino Drive submitted a signed letter to the Planning Commission expressing their traffic and privacy concerns.
The letter focused on the impact of 333-335 S. Beverly Dr. and 9467 Olympic Blvd. Resident Ari Tuchman, who wrote the letter, spoke at the Oct. 9 meeting. He emphasized that residents are not interested in denying developers their projects, but rather in providing parameters to certain elements.
“No one denies anyone the right to use and enjoy the property, but I think Mr. Aflalo and Mr. Leaderman would agree that this is a two-way street and that this applies to us as it applies to them,” he said. “Our letter is so sensible and understanding, and we ask for so little.”
As approved, amplified sound in outdoor areas is prohibited in all three settlements. Use of shared outdoor areas is permitted from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends and public holidays, and grilling on individual balconies is prohibited.
Sound and privacy barriers are also required for all three properties, including a 6-foot-tall sound barrier on roof surfaces opposite residential properties and 4-foot-tall opaque or translucent screens on balconies and outdoor common living spaces.
There is now a 14-day appeal period during which anyone can lodge an appeal.
“If appealed, the next step would be a City Council hearing,” Beverly Hills Community Development Director Michael Forbes said in an email to the Courier. “If no appeal is made, the Planning Commission’s decision will be final.”
The developer then creates construction plans and submits them to the city for review.