Two more Builder's Remedy projects get the go-ahead in Beverly Hills

For a second time in as many weeks, the Beverly Hills Planning Commission convened on October 14 to give a perfunctory sign-off to a batch of Builder's Remedy projects.

Up for approvals this round were a 12-story, approximately 124-foot-tall building planned at 346 N. Maple Drive. The project - a joint venture between Builder's Remedy pioneer Leo Pustilnikov and Oak Investment Co., LLC, (an entity affiliated with Beverly Hills-based Dromy International Investment Corp.) would replace an existing residential building with a 65-unit development containing studio, one-, and two-bedroom dwellings above a 15-car garage.

To be eligible as a Builder's Remedy project, 346 Maple is required to provide 13 units of low-income affordable housing.

Ottinger Architects is designing the contemporary mid-rise development.

A short walk to the northeast at 401 N. Oakhurst Drive, applicant DH 1821 Daly, LLC has secured authorization for the construction of a an 11-story, approximately 131-foot-tall building containing 25 two-bedroom apartments - including five low-income units - above parking for 14 vehicles.

Like its counterpart to the west, 401 Oakhurst is being designed by Ottinger Architects.

As was the case with the prior week, when the Planning Commission considered a trio of Builder's Remedy applications at sites near the intersection of Beverly Drive and Olympic Boulevard, staff reports indicate that the City either cannot make the findings required for denial of the Maple and Oakhurst Drive developments, or are otherwise prohibited from doing so by state housing law.

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The Builder's Remedy, a once little-known provision of state housing law, allows property owners or developers in a City with a non-compliant housing element to ignore certain zoning rules to build taller and denser projects than would otherwise be allowed. Builder's Remedy projects must either provide 20 percent of total units for lower-income renters or be reserved entirely for moderate-income households.

Beverly Hills, which tried and failed on several occasions to gain certification of its housing element before finally achieving success in 2024, saw applications for roughly two dozen such projects while out of compliance. While Beverly Hills has agreed to process some of those projects, including a 26-story tower planned by Crescent Heights on Burton Way, others applicants who have seen their applications rejected by the City have resorted to legal action to move their projects forward.

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