Santa Monica : Planners Reject Attempt to Alter Hotel Proposal

The Planning Commission rejected an application Monday from a company that wants to make changes in an already-approved hotel project at 1700 Ocean Ave.

Santa Monica Hotel Associates purchased the 2.7-acre site from Ocean Village Associates, which had received approval from the commission for a 299-room hotel in 1983.

Santa Monica Hotel Associates wants to expand the project to a 349-room hotel, increase the height from four to five stories and add more space for a restaurant, meeting rooms and parking.

However, the company did not receive the necessary four votes. The commission voted 3 to 1 in favor of the changes, with one abstention.

Mayor Christine E. Reed and Santa Monica Hotel Associates have filed an appeal with the City Council, hoping to reverse the decision.

“We shouldn’t lose sight of the revenue potential of these hotel projects,” Reed said, “and that the City Council just a month before the last election approved a land-use plan which focused on this area, the west side of Ocean Avenue, as a hotel area.”