Plan for Old Torrance Rejected : Development: Panel turns down proposal to refurbish downtown area but an appeal is expected.

The Torrance Planning Commission Wednesday soundly rejected a major project to refurbish the old downtown section of Torrance, but the plan is expected to be appealed to the city Redevelopment Agency.

City officials and a project representative expressed surprise at its defeat.

Commissioners voted 6 to 0 to reject the four-acre plan, saying they are fearful it is too big and dense for the downtown area. They urged the developers, Gascon Mar Ltd. of San Diego and Sam Levy Investments of Torrance, to consider making the project smaller.

But Allan MacKenzie, a Gascon Mar partner, said he isn’t sure the project can be altered.

“I’m concerned that, if we make substantial changes, it would no longer be feasible,” MacKenzie said. “We will evaluate it. I think it’s going to be difficult.”

Mayor Katy Geissert called the plans the most viable she has seen for the downtown area.

“I’m hopeful that something can be worked out, at least on a variation of the project,” she said. “I’m fearful if that doesn’t happen, that area will sit and continue to deteriorate.”

The project, unveiled last fall, calls for replacing some retail buildings and an old hotel with 175 condominiums and more than 25,000 square feet of retail space.

The plan swiftly drew criticism from a number of downtown merchants and neighborhood residents. Some said they thought the project would destroy the small-town flavor of the old downtown; others said the increase in residential space would squeeze out retail activity.

The project will be reviewed by council members meeting as the city Redevelopment Agency, possibly as early as Feb. 26, said Michael Bihn, senior principal planner for the city.

The commission on Wednesday also voted 6 to 1 to reject plans for a retail shopping center at the southwest corner of Lomita and Crenshaw boulevards. The vote reflected commissioners’ concerns about traffic volume and flow, commission Chairman Frank Rizzardi said.