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, innovative, and sustainable high school campus,” Diaz told the council.

Mayor Mary Serta said the campus changes were presented with multiple neighborhood mitigations. Councilmember Mark Henderson and others pressed the school on parking and event arrangements; the council added a condition requiring the school to demonstrate off-site parking arrangements for special events before those events are held.

On legislation, the council introduced Ordinance No. 18-77, updating the municipal code to permit non-storefront retail medical cannabis delivery businesses in the M-1 and M-2 industrial zones with distance buffers for sensitive uses; the motion to introduce the ordinance passed on a unanimous roll call. Council also introduced Ordinance No. 18-80 to amend municipal rent-mediation provisions so required notice for rent increases above 10 percent matches recently enacted state law (90 days’ notice); that introduction also passed unanimously.

A separate, earlier vote on the consent calendar passed, and the council rejected a request to amend the minutes of the previous meeting by a 3-2 roll call (Mayor Serta, Mayor Pro Tem Tanaka and Councilmember Henderson in favor; Councilmembers Francis and Love opposed). Councilmember Wanda Love had asked that minutes documenting public comments be corrected; the council majority declined.

Votes at a glance - Gardena Boulevard façade program guidelines (staff/GBAC recommendation): Approved (roll call: Henderson yes; Tanaka yes; Francis yes; Love yes; Serta yes). - Resolution No. 6694 — ECHS site modifications (CUP/site plan/administrative adjustment): Approved 4-1 (Mayor Serta yes; Tanaka yes; Henderson yes; Love yes; Francis no). Council added a condition requiring demonstration of adequate off-site parking for special events. - Ordinance No. 18-77 (introduce) — Allow non-storefront medical cannabis delivery businesses in M-1/M-2 with buffers: Introduced (roll call unanimous). - Ordinance No. 18-80 (introduce) — Amend rent-mediation notice to match AB 1110 (90 days for >10% increases): Introduced (roll call unanimous). - Consent calendar approval (routine items except pulled minutes): Approved (roll call unanimous earlier in meeting). - Motion to leave Jan. minutes as published (request to pull and correct denied): Passed 3-2 (Serta/Tanaka/Henderson yes; Francis/Love no).

Why it matters: The façade program uses state grant funds and city design guidance to encourage reinvestment along Gardena Boulevard, potentially altering storefront appearance and signage for dozens of properties; the ECHS action clears the way for a redesigned campus that school leaders said will improve safety, circulation and environmental features; the cannabis and rent ordinance moves the city into compliance with state law while preserving some local controls.

What’s next: Program implementation steps for Gardena Boulevard include consultant procurement and outreach to property owners; ECHS must submit the off-site parking agreement for special events when required; both ordinances will return for additional readings and final adoption per the municipal process.

Who said what (selected) - Steve Rogers, chair, Gardena Economic and Business Advisory Commission: described the façade program and recommended an earth-tone palette and coordinated awnings and blade signage. - Allison Diaz, founder, Environmental Charter Schools: “We are confident that these modifications will allow us to fully realize the potential of this site as a vibrant, innovative, and sustainable high school campus.” - Councilmember Francis (recorded on roll call): “I’m not crazy about…being told what color paint my building, but since I don’t have to, I’ll go with it. It’s voluntary.”

Ending: The council’s approvals launch design and outreach work on Gardena Boulevard and allow ECHS to move forward with a campus plan; final adoption votes on the two ordinances will follow in future meetings.