Residents Fight Mega-Mansion In 90210 Neighborhood

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) — Wealthy residents from Benedict Canyon are banding together to fight plans for a mega-mansion that would create a compound roughly the size of the famed Hearst Castle in the coveted 90210 ZIP code.

Members of the Bel Air/Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council and the Benedict Canyon Association have joined forces as the "Save Benedict Canyon" campaign to protest the plans. They say that if approved, construction of the compound will create environmental and safety hazards as well as create heavy traffic and noise.

Martha Karsh, a member of the group who lives near the site of the proposed mansion, says the owner — whose identity still hasn't been disclosed — may be a member of Saudi royalty.

They also are planning to go door-to-door and have launched a website opposing the construction of the 85,000-square foot compound on Tower Lane.

The neighborhood is already home to many mansions, but residents say the planned 42,681-square-foot house and its associated buildings are too much.

Blueprints also call for a 27,000-square-foot villa, a guest house, staff quarters and a gatehouse.

The mysterious land owner created a special business to handle the deal.

Residents of the area include Bruce Springsteen, Jay Leno and David Beckham.

For more on the construction plans and the group's campaign, visit their website.

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