BEVERLY HILLS—On Tuesday, September 5, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant upheld the current Hilton Condominium Tower Initiative language with some minor changes, according to a press release from the city of Beverly Hills. The initiative is set to be on the November 8 ballot.

In upholding the majority of the current language, Judge Chalfant rejected The Beverly Hills Garden and Open Space Initiative’s request to delete the Hilton Initiative’s title and restate the ballot’s language. Judge Chalfant kept the description of the restriction of graywater requirements and the elimination of architectural review. The title “Hilton Condominium Tower Initiative” was kept and the judge ruled that the description of a 26 story building as a tower was “accurate and impartial,” according to the press release.

“We are pleased with the judge’s ruling,” said City Attorney Larry Wiener. “It is a shame that it had to come to litigation, but with these minor tweaks the ballot question is now settled.”

The previous ballot language without changes read: “HILTON CONDOMINIUM TOWER INITIATIVE — Shall an ordinance be adopted allowing a 26 story (345 feet) residential building instead of two residential buildings of 8 stories (101 feet) and 18 stories (218 feet); increasing open space from approximately 1.25 acres to 1.7 acres for use as a private garden that is generally open to the public subject to reasonable restrictions determined by the property owner; prohibiting any discretionary architectural review; and reducing graywater use requirements?”

The current ballot language with changes reads: “HILTON CONDOMINIUM TOWER INITIATIVE — Shall an ordinance be adopted allowing a 26 story (345 feet) residential building instead of two residential buildings of 8 and 18 stories (101 and 218 feet); increasing open space from 3.28 to 3.89 acres and identifying 1.7 acres of open space as private garden generally open to the public subject to property owner’s reasonable restrictions; removing conference center and relocating its uses; prohibiting discretionary architectural review; reducing graywater use requirements?”

Canyon News had reported that the Beverly Hills community was able to send in arguments for and against the initiative until August 12. Canyon News emailed Public Information Officer, Therese Kosterman, for more information on the arguments that had been sent in and on Judge Chalfant’s ruling, but did not hear back before print.