Architectural Review Committee Meeting
Regular MeetingMonterey, CA · November 1, 2023
Minutes
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MINUTES
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
COUNCIL CHAMBER AND ZOOM TELECONFERENCE
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
Members Present: Tregenza, Ostovar, Palmer, Schmidt
Members Absent: Pauly, Hunter, Turgen
Staff Members Present: Planning Manager Hill, Associate Planner Buggert, Recording
Secretary Barrera, Administrative Assistant Arganbright
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Tregenza called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. Administrative Assistant Arganbright
provided information to the public about how to participate by calling in to give public comment
on the live web meeting.
CONSENT ITEMS
No comments were made regarding the Consent Agenda.
On a motion by Committee Member Schmidt, seconded by Committee Ostovar, and carried by
the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee approved the CONSENT ITEMS as
submitted:
AYES: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Tregenza, Ostovar, Palmer, Schmidt
NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSENT: 3 COMMISSIONERS: Pauly, Hunter, Turgen
ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None
RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None
Approval of Minutes
2. September 20, 2023 (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20 Section 15378 and
under General Rule Article 5 Section 15061)
Action: Approved as submitted.
3. October 18, 2023 (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20 Section 15378 and under
General Rule Article 5 Section 15061)
Action: Approved as submitted.
***End of Consent Agenda***
PUBLIC COMMENTS (Matters Not on Agenda)
None.
PUBLIC APPEARANCE
DocuSign Envelope ID: D60CD04A-1F37-4BC9-8207-CE9A1F0362FE
Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, November 1, 2023
4. Consider 2030 North Fremont Street; Sign Permit Application SI-23-0128 for One
Wall Sign with Internal Illumination and One Vehicle-Oriented Freestanding Sign;
Applicant Julio Gil; Owner Manuel Aviles; Visitor Accommodation Facility Zoning
District (VAF); Commercial General Plan Land Use Designation; Exempt from
CEQA Requirements per Article 19, Section 15311, Class 11)
Action: Sign Permit Application SI-23-0128, Approved for One Wall Sign with
Internal Illumination and Denied One Vehicle-Oriented Freestanding Sign
at 2030 North Fremont Street
Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions
Associate Planner Buggert presented the Agenda Report and answered Committee
Members’ questions regarding zoning and proposed signage.
Applicant
None.
Public Comments
None.
Committee Member Comments
Committee Member’s shared concern over the amount of signage and potentially
approving a non-conforming sign.
Mr. Buggert clarified the Citywide Sign Guidelines. Planning Manager, Levi Hill added
that Staff intends to bring compliance to non-conforming signs when possible.
On a motion by Chair Tregenza, seconded by Committee Member Schmidt, and carried by the
following vote, the Architectural Review Committee approved Sign Permit Application SI-23-
0128 for one wall sign with internal illumination and denied one vehicle-oriented freestanding
sign at 2030 North Fremont Street:
AYES: 4 MEMBERS: Tregenza, Ostovar, Palmer, Schmidt
NOES: 0 MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 3 MEMBERS: Pauly, Hunter, Turgen
ABSTAIN: 0 MEMBERS: None
RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None
5. Consider 2301 North Fremont Street; Sign Permit Application SI-22-0204 for One
Replacement Internally Illuminated Vehicle-Oriented Freestanding Sign; Applicant
Michele Richmond; Owner Bei-Scott Company, LLC; Planned Community Zoning
District – North Fremont Specific Plan (PC-NF); Commercial General Plan Land Use
Designation (Exempt from CEQA per Article 19, Section 15311, Class 11)
Architectural Review Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
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DocuSign Envelope ID: D60CD04A-1F37-4BC9-8207-CE9A1F0362FE
Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Action: Denied Sign Permit Application SI-22-0204 for One Replacement Internally
Illuminated Vehicle-Oriented Freestanding Sign at 2301 North Fremont
Street
Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions
Associate Planner Buggert presented the Agenda Report and answered Committee
Members’ questions regarding the North Fremont Specific Plan Sign Guidelines and the
Citywide Sign Guidelines.
Committee Member Ostovar asked for clarification on denying the application versus
continuing. Mr. Buggert clarified and suggested referring to the applicant. Mr. Hill
explained the different routes the applicant can take.
Chair Tregenza pointed out that other LED price signs have been approved in the area.
Committee Member Schmidt asked why LED lighting is prohibited. Mr. Hill stated the
definition is broad and suggested having a conversation about amendments to the North
Fremont Specific Plan and or the Citywide Sign Guidelines in the future.
Applicant
Applicant Cody Viduya explained their efforts to minimize light pollution and stated that
the fuel industry is moving towards LED lighting because it is more efficient and looks
nicer.
Public Comments
None.
Committee Member Comments
Chair Tregenza complimented the applicants on their application submittal and
suggested making amendments to the Citywide Sign Guidelines. Committee Member
Ostovar added that LED lighting can be difficult to regulate. Committee Member Schmidt
stated the older signs seem more muted than the proposed signs and the proposed sign
seems out of character for the area. Committee Member Palmer spoke in favor of Staff’s
recommendation to deny the application.
Chair Tregenza discussed approving the application against Staff’s recommendation. Mr.
Hill stated it would be difficult because the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) would
need to make findings for approval, but the proposal is listed as a prohibited sign type.
On a motion by Chair Tregenza, seconded by Committee Member Palmer, and carried by the
following vote, the Architectural Review Committee denied Sign Permit Application SI-22-0204
for one replacement internally illuminated vehicle-oriented freestanding sign at 2301 North
Fremont Street:
AYES: 4 MEMBERS: Tregenza, Ostovar, Palmer, Schmidt
NOES: 0 MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 3 MEMBERS: Pauly, Hunter, Turgen
ABSTAIN: 0 MEMBERS: None
RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None
Architectural Review Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
3
DocuSign Envelope ID: D60CD04A-1F37-4BC9-8207-CE9A1F0362FE
Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, November 1, 2023
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
Chair Tregenza formally requested that Staff review and revise the Citywide Sign Guidelines
and Specific Plan Sign Guidelines.
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS
Received update.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:09 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved,
Planning Manager Chair
Architectural Review Committee
Architectural Review Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
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Agenda
Committee Members
Architectural Review Committee Meeting
Patrick Tregenza, Chair
Agenda
Justin Pauly, Vice Chair
Ed Hunter
Payam Ostovar
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Eric Palmer
Shelly Schmidt
4:00 PM
Council Chamber, 580 Pacific St., Kimberly Turgen
and ZoomGov Teleconference
Monterey, California
How to participate in this meeting:
Written comment: Members of the public may submit comment(s) to
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are not read aloud during the meeting but are made available to the meeting body and
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of the record.
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FIELD TRIP
The Architectural Review Committee will not conduct a field trip to review the November
1, 2023 ARC meeting agenda. For more information, call (831) 646-3885. Date Posted:
October 27, 2023
***Afternoon Session Agenda Only***
CALL TO ORDER
1. Meeting Procedures
CONSENT ITEMS
CONSENT ITEMS allow for a review of those items recommended for approval on
consent or recommended to be continued, tabled or withdrawn, etc. Consent items
consist of those items which are routine and for which a staff recommendation has been
prepared. A member of the public or a Committee Member may request that an item
recommended for approval on consent be heard on the regular agenda for further
discussion.
Approval of Minutes
2. September 20, 2023
3. October 18, 2023
***End of Consent Agenda***
PUBLIC COMMENTS (MATTERS NOT ON AGENDA)
PUBLIC COMMENTS. At this time, the public may speak for a maximum of three minutes
on any subject which is within the jurisdiction of the Monterey Architectural Review
Committee and which is not on the agenda. The Chair will request that persons wishing
to speak on topics that are not on the agenda line up at the podium or use the “raise
hand” function in Zoom, to determine the number of persons interested in speaking. The
amount of time for public comment will be determined based on the number of persons
interested in speaking. The maximum time allotted for public comment is 15 minutes. In
exceptional circumstances and when necessary to ensure full opportunity for public input,
the board chair may, with board consent, adjust the amount of time allowed for public
input and/or the time allotted for each speaker. Any person or group desiring to bring an
item to the attention of the Committee may do so during Public Comments or by
addressing a letter of explanation to the Committee, City Hall, Monterey, CA 93940.
Public Comments are taken during the afternoon session and continued at the evening
session. Individuals may choose to speak once for up to three minutes at either session,
but not both.
PUBLIC APPEARANCE
PUBLIC APPEARANCE items are reports on action or informational issues that might
stimulate public discussion, but that do not require formal noticing as public hearings.
You are welcome to offer your comments after being recognized by the Chair. The Chair
may limit the time allocated to each speaker.
4. Consider 2030 North Fremont Street; Sign Permit Application SI-23-0128 for
One Wall Sign with Internal Illumination and One Vehicle-Oriented
Freestanding Sign; Applicant Julio Gil; Owner Manuel Aviles; Visitor
Accommodation Facility Zoning District (VAF); Commercial General Plan
Land Use Designation; Exempt from CEQA Requirements per Article 19,
Section 15311, Class 11)
5. Consider 2301 North Fremont Street; Sign Permit Application SI-22-0204 for
One Replacement Internally Illuminated Vehicle-Oriented Freestanding Sign;
Applicant Michele Richmond; Owner Bei-Scott Company, LLC; Planned
Community Zoning District – North Fremont Specific Plan (PC-NF);
Commercial General Plan Land Use Designation (Exempt from CEQA per
Article 19, Section 15311, Class 11)
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
COMMITTEE MEMBERS may ask a question for clarification, make a brief
announcement or make a brief report on his or her activities. In addition, a Committee
Member may provide a referral to staff or other resources for factual information, request
staff to report back to the body at a subsequent meeting concerning any City matter, or
direct staff to place a request to agendize a matter of business on a future agenda. (G.C.
54954.2)
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS supply information on activities or
announcements and may request clarification or direction regarding the scheduling of
meetings and study sessions.
Architectural Review Committee
11/1/2023 4:00:00 PM
2
6. Planning Office Update
ADJOURNMENT
ADJOURNMENT — The general policy of the Architectural Review Committee is that the
Afternoon Session will end no later than 5:30 p.m. and the Evening Session will end no
later than 11:00 p.m. Any public agenda items that have not been completed within the
designated adjournment time may be formally extended by the Committee, or continued
to the next regularly scheduled Architectural Review Committee Meeting, or continued to
a Special Meeting.
Agenda packets may be reviewed by the public in the Monterey Public Library, in the Planning Office,
or on the web at http://www.monterey.org beginning late Friday afternoon prior to the date of the
meeting.
Members of the public have the right to address the Committee on any Agenda items. The Chair will
formally open the floor for public comment. However, if you wish to speak to items during "Consent
Agenda" or "Staff Informational Report," please advise the staff or the Chair prior to the action on that
item and you will be recognized. Notification as much in advance as possible is appreciated.
Information distributed to the Committee at the meeting becomes part of the public record. A copy of
written material, pictures, etc. should be provided to the Secretary for this purpose.
Architectural Review Committee decisions may be appealed within ten (10) days from the date of the
decision on forms available in the Planning Division during business hours. When the tenth day falls
on a weekend or a holiday, the appeal deadline date is the next working day following the holiday or
weekend. An appeal fee will apply. For more agenda information, call the Planning Office at 831-646-
3885.
CITY OF MONTEREY'S 24-HOUR SUGGESTION HOTLINES:
Voicemail: 831-646-3799
FAX: 831-646-3793
Email: suggest@monterey.org
WebPage: http://www.monterey.org
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and activities. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special
assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (831) 646-
3935. Notification 30 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable
arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting [28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title
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MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE BY CALLING 646-3885
Architectural Review Committee
11/1/2023 4:00:00 PM
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