Gardena council approves Gardena Boulevard façade program, OKs Environmental Charter High School site changes; introduces cannabis and rent ordinances

The Gardena City Council on Tuesday approved a series of land-use and program measures aimed at downtown revitalization and school campus improvements, and introduced two ordinances updating local rules for cannabis delivery and rent-increase notices.

Council members voted unanimously to adopt guidelines for a Gardena Boulevard façade improvement program that will offer paint, blade-signage and awning options to participating property owners using a grant-funded pool of funds. GBAC (Gardena Economic and Business Advisory Commission) chair Steve Rogers told the council the program is intended to provide coordinated exterior paint, standardized blade signage and predesigned awnings to help attract business to the corridor.

The council also voted 4-1 to adopt Resolution No. 6694 approving a modification to the conditional-use permit for Environmental Charter High School (ECHS) at 2818 Manhattan Beach Boulevard. School founder Allison Diaz said the project replaces a former church assembly building with a single-story, net-zero classroom and office suite, improves on-site queuing for drop-off and pick-up, and adds fencing to separate campus circulation from public streets. “We are confident that these modifications will allow us to fully realize the potential of this site as a vibrant,…