Gardena Puts Condos on Hold for a Redesign : Development: The City Council refuses to give its approval until the builder comes up with better-looking units.

The Gardena City Council has postponed a decision on a proposed 16-unit LaSalle Avenue condominium project, asking developers to make the units more attractive.

The city Planning Commission approved the plan by a 4-1 vote Feb 6. But the council voted unanimously Tuesday to delay final approval of the plans until its April 24 meeting, giving the developer 60 days to come up with new architectural designs.

Pete McCarroll, who is developing the 16008-20 LaSalle Ave. project, said he had complied with the city’s Building Code. City staff had recommended approval of the project.

But, Councilman Mas Fukai said, merely complying with the code is not good enough.

“I see McCarroll and others buying property, building it up so that it barely meets code, selling it and getting out without taking the time out to consider quality,” Fukai said. “I don’t want army barracks coming into the community. I want to make sure we have good quality developments . . . the same as those in Beverly Hills.”

At the start of the hearing, McCarroll, who attended the council meeting with his partner and son, Pete McCarroll Jr., volunteered to redesign the floor plan of each unit to add variety. Council members said they also want to see changes in facades and landscaping when McCarroll returns with new plans.

Council members also questioned whether city staff should have approved McCarroll’s plans.

“I think that the staff has to look at these things more carefully and to state to the developer that we do want good quality inside and out,” Mayor Donald Dear said.

Over the last several months, council members have expressed concern over construction standards in the city. Last month, the council asked the staff to review the Building Code to see if current standards need to be raised.

Last November, the council also adopted a site plan review, which requires that projects with four or more units be approved by the Planning Commission before a building permit is issued. A building permit is approved only if the commission finds that the proposed development will not adversely affect “the orderly and harmonious development and general welfare of the city.”

During Tuesday’s hearing, two Gardena residents said they are not happy with the appearance of projects McCarroll has built in their neighborhoods.

One of them, Mary Zucconi of 15820 Harvard Blvd., said McCarroll constructed an apartment building on her street. She called his developments “completely out of character with the other homes in the area.”

Fukai said he has received complaints from other residents who live near projects McCarroll has developed. “His track record as far as I’m concerned is not a good one,” Fukai said.

Fukai and Councilman Paul Tsukahara said they would move to delay the decision on the condominiums again if McCarroll’s new plans do not satisfy their objections.