Citing design and fire response concerns in Browns Valley, the Napa City Council decided late Tuesday night to delay a decision on the proposed 43-home Carmel Drive subdivision until early next year.

The developer, Silverado Napa Corp., was told to meet with neighbors who are concerned about big houses on small lots, while the city grapples with how to improve fire department service to west Napa.

A majority of council members said they might be willing to approve the project if the home designs were more acceptable to neighbors and a plan for better fire and medical service could be worked out.

This is not officially a moratorium on Browns Valley development, council members said, yet it could spell trouble next Tuesday for an even larger Browns Valley, the 72-home Hussey subdivision, that is scheduled for public hearing.