The Beverly Hills estate of Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian sold for $19 million in 2015 to timeshare millionaire Stephen Cloobeck. Not content with the large-yet-rather-unassuming six-bedroom mansion at North Roxbury Drive, Cloobeck set out to build his own $20 million, 16,000-square-foot mansion. Despite the fact that the Design Review Commission denied the designs late last year, the Beverly Hills Planning Commission approved the home on Monday.

This is said to be the first time a Beverly Hills resident has successfully appealed a DRC ruling. The commission was created in 2004 to prevent overbuilding and gaudy designs from taking over the neighborhood. All new homes are subject to review and the commission can request changes they see fit. The DRC has denied Cloobeck’s mansion designs twice, noting that it was “too bulky,” lacked “warmth,” and that it looked like a mausoleum.”

Richard Landry, via Beverly Hills Planning Commission

After he found himself unable to comply with the commission’s requests, Cloobeck actually asked them to deny his designs so that he could appeal directly to the planning commission. The decision now opens the door for other homeowners to appeal any DRC decisions, checking the importance of their role in the process.

Kerkorian’s mansion has already been demolished. Richard Landry of Landry Design Group is the architect of the new home, which can now move forward. The design for the Cloobeck’s dream house is said to be “marrying their love for formal, French architecture with their desire to live in a more clean-lined, contemporary home.” Some of the features noted in plans include a cobblestone motor court, pool with cabana, and four-car garage.

Sources:

Richard Landry-designed manse that DRC called a “mausoleum” will replace Kirk Kerkorian’s estate [The Real Deal]

Megamansion architect Richard Landry gets go-ahead for ‘misunderstood’ Beverly Hills house [Curbed LA]