In a heated debate that involved passionate comments from both the public and elected officials, the Los Angeles City Council made a decision on Tuesday regarding a contentious luxury resort project in the Santa Monica Mountains. The project, spearheaded by developer and movie producer Gary Safady, has been the center of a highly publicized development battle and has been in progress for several years, according to a report by The Real Deal. While it had received initial approval from the city’s Planning Department, which initiated a process that could potentially lead to a zoning change in support of the project, Council member Katy Yaroslavsky presented a motion to halt the process and effectively terminate the project. However, the motion failed to gain enough support, resulting in a tied 7-7 vote among the 14-member council.
Yaroslavsky, a former land use attorney, voiced her concerns about the project prior to the vote, emphasizing that it did not meet the necessary standards. She argued for its immediate termination, stating, “This project does not pass the smell test. We should vote to end it now.”
Dubbed the Bulgari Hotel, the project aims to convert 33 hillside acres in the Benedict Canyon area into an extravagant retreat comprising a 58-key hotel, eight single-family mansions, a restaurant, a spa, and other amenities. The plans also include a private funicular to assist with transportation up the steep hillside. Proponents of the project highlight its eco-friendly approach and its potential to prevent more environmentally detrimental development.
However, the project has faced staunch opposition from local residents, as well as numerous environmental organizations, who perceive it as a threat to both wildlife and the surrounding ecological area. Los Angeles. Mayor Karen Bass has voiced her disapproval of the project, and several celebrities, including Mark Wahlberg, Ashton Kutcher, and Phil McGraw, have taken sides in the debate.
During the council meeting, Yaroslavsky and other opponents of the project raised various arguments against it, including ethical concerns. Yaroslavsky revealed that the developer had already spent over $3 million on lobbying efforts, which she deemed an excessive amount aimed at influencing the council. She also criticized the involvement of a lobbyist who happened to be the spouse of a former council member’s planning deputy and actively lobbied for the project while her husband was still employed by the city.
Yaroslavsky emphasized the importance of protecting the integrity of the planning process and expressed her conviction that the vote was necessary to achieve this goal. Opponents further contended that the project posed a wildfire risk and would undermine the city’s efforts to safeguard wildlife and restrict development in hillside areas.
City staff is expected to release a draft environmental impact report in the near future. The proposed development would occupy land previously owned by the late billionaire Kirk Kerkorian.
Despite the intense controversy surrounding the project, Bulgari has already started promoting a 2026 opening date for its Santa Monica Mountains retreat. As a high-end hospitality operator with establishments in cities like London, Bali, and Dubai, Bulgari seems determined to forge ahead with its plans.
