CARLSBAD -- Saying they didn't have all the information they needed when it came to lighting and noise issues, Carlsbad's planning commissioners decided Wednesday to delay a decision on a proposed luxury auto sales complex.

The move came after a series of people who live west of the proposed project threatened the city with legal action and declared that Carlsbad loved making money more than protecting the quality of life of its residents.

"I am not going to mince my words with you guys," said Ken Vallone, who lives in the La Costa Downs development west of the railroad tracks. "I am against this entire project."

The plans call for Hoehn Motors to lease a 23-acre site along Avenida Encinas from the Encina Wastewater Authority, which operates a treatment facility next door. On the now-vacant parcel, the car company would put Audi, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Porshe sales facilities. Some of these dealerships would be relocating from other spots, but the Jaguar and Land Rover dealerships would be new additions for the company.

Company President Bill Hoehn said he has learned much from Hoehn Motors' experience at the Car Country Carlsbad auto plaza, which is on the east side of the freeway. That place, which was built in the 1970s, is "showing its age," Hoehn said, adding that the new complex would have tons of on-site parking, unlike the Car Country area.

Jack Henthorn, a consultant for the company, said the new dealerships will have an ultra-modern design and contain many other features to limit their impact on the neighborhood.

But people who live west of the railroad tracks told commissioners that the luxury car dealerships would cause high-speed traffic accidents, wake them with noisy car deliveries in the middle of the night and blanket their neighborhood with light pollution.

Commissioners said they also wanted more information about the area's traffic accident history after hearing from neighbors that there was one fatality and several significant crashes in recent years. They also wanted details about the proposed lights over the dealerships.

"We're talking about (the lighting), but I don't really have a good idea of what this is going to look like," said Commissioner Sondra Boddy.

They agreed to take a second look at the project at their next meeting, Sept. 17.

Contact staff writer Barbara Henry at (760) 901-4072 or bhenry@nctimes.com.

CORRECTION: Commission meeting date in error

A story in some editions of Thursday's North County Times provided incorrect information about the date of the next Carlsbad Planning Commission meeting. That meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 17. We apologize.