Superior Court Judge Sides with Beverly Hills, Upholds Ballot Title And Format

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — A superior court judge has upheld the current title and ballot question language of the Hilton Condominium Tower Initiative with minor changes.

The judge rejected a request from the Residents for The Beverly Hills Garden & Open Space Initiative to delete the title and substantially restate the ballot language.

At a hearing Tuesday, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant made minor changes to the ballot question, i.e. clarifying how the open space was described and adding a reference to a relocation of the conference center.

The judge kept in place the title "Hilton Condominium Tower Initiative," and language describing the reduction in graywater requirements and the elimination of architectural review. The judge ruled that a description of a 26-story building as a tower was accurate and impartial.

"We are pleased with the judge's ruling," said City Attorney Larry Wiener, "it is a shame that it had to come to litigation, but with these minor tweaks the ballot question is now settled."

Ballot question language with changes:

HILTON CONDOMINIUM TOWER INITIATIVE - SHALL AN ORDINANCE BE ADOPTED ALLOWING A 26 STORY (345 FEET) RESIDENTIAL BUILDING INSTEAD OF TWO RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS OF 8 AND 18 STORIES (101 and 218 FEET); INCREASING OPEN SPACE FROM 3.28 TO 3.89 ACRES AND IDENTIFYING 1.7 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE AS PRIVATE GARDEN GENERALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SUBJECT TO PROPERTY OWNER'S REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS; REMOVING CONFERENCE CENTER AND RELOCATING ITS USES; PROHIBITING DISCRETIONARY ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW; REDUCING GRAYWATER USE REQUIREMENTS?

Ballot question language without changes:

HILTON CONDOMINIUM TOWER INITIATIVE - SHALL AN ORDINANCE BE ADOPTED ALLOWING A 26 STORY (345 FEET) RESIDENTIAL BUILDING INSTEAD OF TWO RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS OF 8 STORIES (101 FEET) AND 18 STORIES (218 FEET); INCREASING OPEN SPACE FROM APPROXIMATELY 1.25 ACRES TO 1.7 ACRES FOR USE AS A PRIVATE GARDEN THAT IS GENERALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SUBJECT TO REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS DETERMINED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER; PROHIBITING ANY DISCRETIONARY ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW; AND REDUCING GRAYWATER USE REQUIREMENTS?

— News Release from the city of Beverly Hills, photo via Shutterstock