Measure H, the Beverly Hills referendum that would allow the construction of two condo buildings and a Waldorf-Astoria hotel at the site of the Beverly Hilton, has passed by a slim margin of 129 votes.

The Nov. 4 election results for Measure H were certified Dec. 1 by the County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder, with the measure passing 7,972 to 7,843. Shortly after the election, the “no” vote led by a slim margin, but that difference was reversed over several weeks with the counting of mail-in and provisional ballots.

The passage of the referendum paves the way for developer Beny Alagem to move forward with his $500 million project, which would transform the Hilton site he owns by adding 8- and 18-story condo buildings and the 12 story hotel.

The Beverly Hills City Council approved the project by a 3-2 vote earlier this year, but opponents gathered enough signatures to place the referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot. Opponents have complained the project is too large and would cause traffic congestion.

The battle over the measure was highly contentious with both sides trading accusations of a variety of improprieties.

Separately, the county registrar said Measure R, the half-cent sales tax increase for comprehensive county transportation improvements, officially passed with more than a two-thirds majority vote following the Registrar’s final vote count.

The measure, which was widely backed by the business community, is expected to bring in $40 billion over 30 years to fund transit and highway projects and support transit operations throughout the county.

The new sales tax will start being collected July 1. It is projected that more than $650 million will be collected in the first full year. The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation estimates Measure R will cost residents an average of $25 per person each year.