After the Simi Valley Planning Commission approved an application to build a "green" medical office building with 17 for-sale units, two City Council members appealed the vote Tuesday, saying the design is inconsistent with the city's architectural guidelines.

Mayor Paul Miller and Councilman Glen Becerra said the elements stray from city guidelines for "high quality architectural style," like clay tile and multi-planed, pitched roofs.

The city often approves projects with Mediterranean or Spanish-style design elements, but the medical building has a more contemporary look, with sleek lines — much of which is geared toward saving energy.

"The flat roof and other aspects of the design don't fit in," Miller said.

However, the City Council voted in November to start a committee to review ways to implement more green building techniques in the city, which would conserve energy, water and other resources.

Miller said the appeal will bring the application to the City Council for consideration, which can decide to vote on the project or ask for design changes and send it back to the Planning Commission.

The proposed three-story, 25,400-square-foot structure would be built on 1.9 acres at 525 E. Los Angeles Ave., east of Sinaloa Road.

The medical office building is a much-needed use in the city, officials have said.

The appeal asks the applicant, Larry Greene of Greeneway Development of Agoura Hills, to possibly redesign the project. Greene was notified Wednesday.

"It was kind of shocking, but that's fine," Greene said. "We'll meet them in the middle."

Greene's proposal is a modern and contemporary architectural design meant to appeal to medical professionals seeking to buy an office condominium, and to help revitalize the area of Los Angeles Avenue, a staff report said.

The site already has an existing medical office building, built in 1964, that would be demolished.

Greene has proposed a flat roof for the medical office condos, meant to deflect the sun, as well as tinted windows for constant shade, which would help reduce the use of air conditioning. He also plans to install low-flow toilets and waterless urinals. The proposal includes 7 percent more landscaping than the city requires.

It also adds oak trees and would implement water conservation practices, said Commissioner Jim Dantona, who voted to approved the project.

The Planning Commission voted 3-2 to approve the project last week, with Commissioners Mary Bibb and Keith Mashburn dissenting.

The biggest concern was the design. The building is surrounded by older commercial and retail businesses.

Dantona said the medical building's green techniques and the city's need for the office space overrode the design inconsistencies.

"None of us thought the building looked how we wanted to see it," he said.

Dantona said the city's guidelines for clay tile roofs and other design elements do not make an energy-efficient building. Dantona noted the imbalance between the city's guidelines for Spanish-style architecture and a need for greener, more efficient buildings.

"That's the dichotomy we're stuck in," he said.

The City Council is scheduled to review the application July 28.