Former Beverly Hills City Planner Masa Alkire is the new community development director for the city of Manhattan Beach. (photo courtesy of the city of Manhattan Beach)

Beverly Hills City Planner and Assistant Director of Community Development Masa Alkire has parted ways with the city of Beverly Hills, accepting a new position as the community development director for the city of Manhattan Beach. The city of Beverly Hills is currently hiring a replacement for the position previously held by Alkire, according to deputy city manager Keith Sterling.

“We are thrilled to welcome Masa Alkire to the city of Manhattan Beach,” Manhattan Beach City Manager Talyn Mirzakhanian said in a press release. “His management of significant development projects, and his commitment to collaborative problem solving make him an invaluable asset to our team and our community. We are confident that his leadership will advance our planning goals and environmental sustainability efforts while preserving our cherished small-town character.”

Alkire joined the city of Beverly Hills in 2016 as a principal planner, before becoming a project manager in 2022 and taking on his most recent position in 2023. Alkire oversaw the planning process of several transformative developments including the One Beverly Hills project. Additionally, during Alkire’s time as city planner, the city became the center of several lawsuits over builder’s remedy projects and the city’s housing element. Alkire worked directly with the California Department of Housing and Community Development to resolve the city’s insufficient housing element, which was ultimately approved in 2024.

“Masa’s service to the city of Beverly Hills included overseeing the city’s planning programs and handling several major development projects,” Beverly Hills Director of Community Development Michael Forbes said. “We thank Masa for his years of dedicated service to Beverly Hills and wish him all the best in his new role.”

Beverly Hills Planning Commissioners thanked Alkire for his services in his last meeting on Aug. 14 and congratulated him on his new position.

“This is very bittersweet news,” Commission Chair Jeff Wolfe said. “It comes with mixed thoughts. Obviously we’re very sorry to see him go … The city will be losing a great resource.”

In turn, Alkire thanked the commissioners and city staff.

“It’s been a great nine and a half years in Beverly Hills,” Alkire said at the meeting. “I’m always impressed by everyone that serves on a commission – all the time and effort and energy that every single commissioner in Beverly Hills puts into this task. It’s not paid, it’s a lot of work and it’s appreciated. I want to thank staff. It’s been really great working with everybody here.”