Residents oppose plan to build hotel in Benedict Canyon

(FOX 11) - Hundreds show up to a meeting in Bel Air Tuesday night to protest a planned development project that residents say will reshape communities in the Santa Monica mountains for the worst for years to come.

A developer wants to build a massive hotel in Benedict Canyon, but residents are saying no and an LA city councilman is taking their side.

Bob Nann is the Vice President of Save Our Canyon a non-profit organized by local residents to stop real estate developer Gary Safady who plans to build an eighty-foot 99 room hotel in Benedict Canyon. An area already plagued with heavy traffic and narrow winding roads.

LA City Councilman Paul Koretz has announced his opposition to the project which would also have a massive parking garage, several other buildings and would take up 780 thousand square feet of space. Space residents aren't willing to give up without a fight.

Mark Levin is leading the effort to kill the project. And he says its impacts would be irreversible.

The developer also wants to create a new zoning classification in the residential communities, so he can push the project through.

And if Safady succeeds residents say all of the Santa Monica mountains could be next.

FOX 11 reached out to the developer and his lobbyist. We didnt hear back and residents here are under the impression he is still full steam ahead on the project.