The Beverly Hills Planning Commission at their Feb. 27 meeting conditionally approved a Development Plan Review for a three-story Cartier retail and office space and reviewed the city’s progress on its General Plan and Housing Element Annual Report.
The commission was joined by multiple representatives from around the globe to discuss plans for the Cartier project. The building, which will be constructed at the corner of Rodeo Drive and Brighton Way, will include 15,250 square feet of retail, offices and lounge areas, including an enclosed terrace on the third floor intended for use by VIP customers.
Describing the significance of the proposed project to the Cartier brand, Fernando Beauchamp, the assistant vice president of store design and construction for Cartier North America, referred to the building as a “Cartier temple.”
“This location, for us, means everything,” he said. “It’s beyond the Cartier structure and segmentation.”
The project has seen some delays. Designed by the Los Angeles-based architecture and design firm Foster + Partners, the Cartier space was initially approved by City Council in 2018.
However, according to representatives at the Feb. 27 meeting, new state laws triggered by the remapping of the Santa Monica fault zone required the developers to conduct heightened geotechnical tests of the plot.
Those tests were then delayed further by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The testing program took a very long time,” said attorney Deborah Quick, senior counsel with the law firm Perkins Coie. “There was an awful lot of scientific analysis and thought that went into how to move forward with the project, achieve Cartier’s goals of bringing the Foster + Partners’ design to life while respecting safety and the need to comply with state law.”
Following the discussion period, during which a condition stipulating that music played on the third-floor terrace would not be audible beyond the boundaries of the property was added to the review, commissioners expressed their appreciation of the project.
“I think this is a fantastic project,” said Commissioner Gary Ross. “It’s not just beautiful; it’s important for the Golden Triangle here in Beverly Hills. It’s a brand that we consider to be an important part of our community and a partner in the city.”
The developer hopes to begin the next stage of construction in August, with a target completion date in summer or early fall of 2027.
The commission also heard a progress update and future plans pertaining to its Housing Element. The city’s Housing Element was certified by the state in May 2024 after a multiyear attempt by the city to produce a document that was in line with California’s ambitious goals for new housing. Between 2021 and 2023, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) rejected four formal versions of the city’s Housing Element.
The city’s final version included a plan to allow for 3,100 new housing units by 2029, commit city-owned or controlled sites for the construction of 557 low-income housing units and increase the number of Accessory Dwelling Units allowed on large properties.
In the city’s presentation to the commission, staff reported that in 2024, Beverly Hills issued building permits for 82 new units, including 10 low-income units, five very low-income units and 29 Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
During the discussion period, staff added that they have also made four preapproved ADU plans available online.
“I think this is important,” said Commissioner Myra Demeter of the preapproved plans. “If people want to make use of this, they should go to the ADU page … it expedites the process because these plans are already approved.”
The City Council is expected to review last year’s General Plan and Housing Element Annual Report at its March 18 meeting. If approved. The report will be submitted to the state prior to April 1.
