Council affirms planning commission approval of Bond Hotel & Residences after heated public hearing

The West Hollywood City Council on April 7 denied an appeal and affirmed the Planning Commission's approval of the Bond Hotel & Residences, a mixed‑use project at 7811 Santa Monica Boulevard that proposes 126 residential units (including 20 set aside as affordable), 45 hotel rooms and subterranean parking. The council vote upheld the commission decision 3–2.

Senior planner Antonio Castillo told the council that the project spans three parcels and requests a 100 percent density bonus plus concessions and waivers under California's density bonus statutes; staff concluded those incentives are authorized by state law and that the planning commission's approval was supported by substantial evidence. "The application of state density bonus law is not a rezoning," Castillo said, adding that state law requires cities to allow specified deviations unless concrete, written public‑health or safety standards show a specific adverse impact.

Opponents led by appellant representatives Anita Gwami and resident Michael Carter argued the project is ineligible under the city's tied‑lot…