Benedict Canyon hotel project passes LA City Council vote

After hours of passionate comments from both the public and elected officials, the L.A. City Council on Tuesday declined to stop a luxury resort project in the Santa Monica Mountains that has become the subject of a fierce and high-profile development fight. 

The project, from developer and movie producer Gary Safady, has been in the works for years and already cleared one early hurdle with the city Planning Department, which initiated a process that could lead to a zoning change to allow it. Before the council on Tuesday was a motion from Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky that would have requested the city planning director halt that process to effectively stop the project in its tracks. 

The 14-member council voted 7-7 on Yaroslavsky’s motion, however, which meant it failed. 

“I’m a former land use attorney, and this project does not pass the smell test,” Yaroslavsky argued ahead of the vote. “We should vote to end it now.” 

The project, now called the Bulgari Hotel, aims to transform 33 hillside acres in the area known as Benedict Canyon into a luxe compound with a 58-key hotel, eight single-family mansions, a restaurant, spa and other features. Plans also call for a private funicular to help with transportation up the steep hillside. 

The project has inspired plenty of supporters, who characterize it as an “eco-friendly sanctuary” that respects nature and will actually forestall denser, more harmful development. 

But it also set off a pitched opposition campaign from neighbors and numerous environmental groups, who see a threat to both wildlife and people in an ecological area. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass has come out against the project, while celebrities, including Mark Wahlberg, Ashton Kutcher and Phil McGraw, have come out on both sides. 

On Tuesday, Yaroslavsky and other project opponents made various arguments against it, including one based on ethics. The developer, Yaroslavsky said, has already spent more than $3 million on lobbying efforts — “an insane amount of money to try to spend to influence the council” — including for the services of one lobbyist who is a spouse of former Councilmember Paul Koretz’s planning deputy. 

“And it’s not just that they were married,” the councilmember continued, “it’s that she was actively lobbying for this project while her husband was still a city employee.” 

“I do not ask for this vote lightly,” Yaroslavsky added, “but I strongly believe it is necessary to protect the integrity of our planning process.” 

Opponents also argued the project presents a wildfire risk and would undermine the city’s efforts to protect wildlife and limit development in hillside areas, among other objections.

A draft environmental impact report from city staff is expected soon. The project would go up on land previously owned by the late billionaire Kirk Kerkorian. 

Despite the fierce controversy, Bulgari is already promoting a 2026 opening date for its Santa Monica Mountains retreat. The high-end hospitality operator already has properties in London, Bali and Dubai, among others.  

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