A Win for the Hillsides: Affirming the Power of our Hollywoodland Specific Plan

The Los Angeles City Council’s decision to deny the proposed development at 3003 Runyon Canyon Road marks an important victory for hillside preservation—and a powerful affirmation of the value of Specific Plans in Los Angeles.

The appeals, led by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, MRCA, and the Hillside Federation, successfully invoked the protections of the Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan (MSP), halting an oversized ridgeline residence that threatened the character of Runyon Canyon Park. This ruling sends a clear message: our city’s planning protections matter—and they must be upheld.

For Hollywoodland, this decision reinforces the enduring strength of our own Hollywoodland Specific Plan, adopted in 1987. Designed to preserve our neighborhood’s distinctive scale, topography, and natural setting, the plan remains our best defense against inappropriate development. Like the MSP, it ensures that new construction is compatible with the hillside environment, our historic fabric, and public safety.