Spielberg Stalls Horse Plans to Hear Complaints

January 3 -- Director Steven Spielberg may have taken a cue from Mister Rogers. Spielberg, who angered residents of Los Angeles' tony Brentwood neighborhood when he announced plans to build a mondo horse-riding ring there, has temporarily stalled the process in order to meet with opponents of the project.

Spielberg's spokesman, Marvin Levy, said Tuesday that the influential filmmaker will still go forward with the $7 million equestrian facility but will not refile his application with the Los Angeles Zoning Administration until he gets a chance to hear from his unhappy neighbors.

"There will be another submission," Levy said. "[Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw] are listening to the neighbors, and the only way to really continue that process is to withdraw the application."

The Saving Private Ryan director met with objections when he announced he would build a 27,000-square-foot indoor riding ring with a retractable roof for his wife, a horse lover. The project, which would allegedly carve out much of a Brentwood hillside, would also include underground parking and stables, an outdoor paddock, and a gatehouse.

John Murdock, a lawyer for a group of homeowners opposed to the project, called it a "good step forward" that Spielberg had withdrawn his application. "All of the objections were valid, therefore we're anxious to meet and explain why this thing can't be built," Murdock told Reuters. The attorney added that he was skeptical that Spielberg could modify his plans enough to please the neighbors.

"I think there's always room for compromise on any issue, [but] it's difficult to see how anything can be constructed that's close to what was asked for," Murdock said.

Among the residents opposed to Spielberg's project are veteran TV producer Roger Gimbel and movie producer Brian Grazer, who made headlines when his company, Imagine Entertainment, sued actor Mike Myers last summer.

What apparently also angers neighbors is that Spielberg doesn't reside in Brentwood; he lives about half a mile away from the 2.8-acre Brentwood property, which he bought in 1999 for $5.75 million.