Beverly Hills : Barneys Store Gets OK

In a meeting that lasted until nearly 3 a.m., the City Council cleared the way with a 4-1 vote for Barneys New York to build a five-story store on Wilshire Boulevard between Bedford Drive and Camden Drive.

A proposal by Saks Fifth Avenue to expand its store and build a bridge along Wilshire across Peck Drive will be taken up, along with alternative proposals, at a special public hearing Sept. 30.

Councilman Robert Tanenbaum cast the sole vote against amending the city’s General Plan and changing a zoning ordinance to accommodate the proposed development of the sites.

“This sends a message that the City Council is prepared to spot-zone in isolated cases to accommodate development. This is a bad precedent to set,” he said.

“There is no question that there will be devastating effects on the residential community during construction. Some members of the Planning Commission have stated that this is true, but outweighed by the greater economic good of the community. I want Barneys in Beverly Hills,” Tanenbaum said, “but I think they could have come in within code and without disrupting the lives of the 500 families that will be affected.”