Architectural Review Committee Meeting

MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE Wednesday, August 07, 2024 4:00 PM 5:30 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER AND ZOOM TELECONFERENCE MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Members Present: Tregenza, Pauly, Hunter, Ostovar (arrived at 4:18), Palmer, Sanders Members Absent: Turgen Staff Members Present: Planning Manager Hill, Principal Planner Roveri, Senior Associate Planner Sabdo, Associate Planner Buggert, Recording Secretary Arganbright CALL TO ORDER Chair Tregenza called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Recording Secretary Arganbright announced staff present and provided information to the public about how to participate by calling in to give public comment on the live web meeting. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes No comments. 2. June 05, 2024 (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20 Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5 Section 15061) Action: Approved as submitted. On a motion by Committee Member Hunter, seconded by Vice Chair Pauly, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee approved the CONSENT ITEMS as submitted: AYES: 4 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Tregenza, Pauly, Hunter, Palmer NOES: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) ABSENT: 2 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Ostovar, Turgen ABSTAIN: 1 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Sanders RECUSED: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) General Public Comment Previous ARC Member, Shelly Schmidt, commented that she enjoyed her time on the ARC, thanked Staff and the other Members, and vocalized that she would miss the Architectural Review Committee process.  Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, August 07, 2024 3. Co -176-025-000); Architectural Review Permit ARP-23-0198 for Preliminary and Final Architectural Review of a First- and Second-Story Addition and Associated Tree Removal Permit ART-24-0097; Applicant Steven Krebs; Owner Alea Brown-Hoffmeister and Thaddeus Hoffmeister; R- 1-5 Zoning District; Low Density Residential General Plan Land Use Designation; Exempt from CEQA per Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1 Action: Approved Architectural Review Permit ARP-23-0198 for preliminary and final architectural review of a first and second-story addition and associated Tree Removal Permit ART-24-0097 at 844 Terry Street as submitted. Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions Associate Planner Buggert presented the Agenda Report. Applicant Applicant Steven Krebs stated the goal of the project was to add 1,000 square feet to the residence while minimizing the impact from the street view. Krebs mentioned the setbacks for the property and stated the project is far below the allowable maximum lot coverage and height. Public Comments None. Committee Member Comments The Committee appreciated the level of detail in the plans and that the addition was subtle when viewed from the street. The Committee also appreciated both the details in and the project for increasing residential capacity. On a motion by Committee Member Hunter, seconded by Committee Member Palmer, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee approved Architectural Review Permit ARP-23-0198 for preliminary and final architectural review of a first and second-story addition and associated Tree Removal Permit ART-24-0097 with conditions: AYES: 5 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Tregenza, Pauly, Hunter, Palmer, Sanders NOES: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) ABSENT: 2 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Ostovar, Turgen ABSTAIN: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) RECUSED: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) Committee Member Ostovar entered the council chamber at 4:18 p.m. 4. Consider 271 Alvarado Street; Sign Permit SI-24-0095 for Awning and A-Frame Signage; Applicant Gary Thompson; Owner Custom House Hotel Co LTD; Visitor Accommodation Facility (VAF) Zoning District; Commercial General Plan Designation (Exempt from CEQA per Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1) Architectural Review Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, August 07, 2024 2 Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, August 07, 2024 Action: Approved Sign Permit SI-24-0095 for awning and A-frame signage at 271 Alvarado Street as submitted. Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions Associate Planner Buggert presented the Agenda Report and answered Committee ons regarding the Adopted Master Sign Program, Citywide Sign Guidelines, awnings adjacent to the project, and deferred a question regarding the height constraints of the project to the applicant. Principal Planner Roveri also assisted with a on the project. Planning Manager Hill elaborated on the state of the project and . Hill then clarified for the Committee that the project would hang 1 foot lower than guidelines usually allow and that awnings are a discouraged type of sign, so that was why staff was recommending a continuance. Applicant Applicant Gary Thompson explained that the roofline prevents the awning from conforming to the 8-foot clearance set by the city sign guidelines. Thompson noted that according to their observations, four out of seven of the neighboring commercial awnings were also not conforming to the 8-foot clearance set by the city sign guidelines, and the three that were above 8 feet had the necessary higher rooflines. Thompson then addressed the staff presentation comment regarding the projection into the pedestrian walkway. Thompson then answered questions from the Committee regarding the awning and the potential wall sign. Public Comments None. Committee Member Comments The Committee expressed preference for an awning over a wall sign for the project to ng too short. The Committee requested to see a picture of the roofline on the staff presentation to visualize issues stated by the applicant. Committee Member Palmer noted the purple coloring of the awning being more conspicuous and the Committee agreed there are multiple conspicuous awnings in the Alvarado Mall area. The Committee expressed that they were nearing a consensus to approve the project and Hill stated that Staff had prepared a resolution in case the Committee was willing to approve the project and that Staff was able to assist in crafting a motion. Architectural Review Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, August 07, 2024 3  Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, August 07, 2024 On a motion by Committee Member Hunter, seconded by Vice Chair Pauly, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee approved Sign Permit SI-24-0095 for awning and A-frame signage at 271 Alvarado Street as submitted: AYES: 4 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Tregenza, Pauly, Hunter, Sanders NOES: 1 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Palmer ABSENT: 1 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Turgen ABSTAIN: 1 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Ostovar RECUSED: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) 5. Consider 1200 Munras Avenue; Permit Amendment PA-24-0115 for Proposed Changes to Approved Architectural Review Permit ARP-22-0087 for Preliminary and Final Architectural Review of Non-Structural Exterior Alterations, Fencing, Landscaping, and Lighting at Monterey Surf Inn; Applicant Digen Patel; Owner Monterey Surf Inn; VAF Zoning District; Commercial General Plan Designation (Exempt from CEQA per Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1) Action: Continued Permit Amendment PA-24-0115 for proposed changes to approved Architectural Review Permit ARP-22-0087 for preliminary and final architectural review of non-structural exterior alterations, fencing, landscaping, and lighting at Monterey Surf Hotel, 1200 Munras Avenue to a date uncertain. Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions Senior Associate Planner Sabdo questions regarding the proposed amendments and how best to assist the applicant. uestion regarding assisting the applicant and explained the potential decisions the Committee can make. Applicant Applicant Digen Patel explained the history of the property and permits and the issues with the fence height and style. Patel explained that he did not know there was a separate pool permit from the County Health Department but could consider that his misunderstanding. Patel then stated his thought process was that the County Health issue could be fixed by filling the pool (with concrete). Patel stated they did not have the funds to both fill the pool and tear down the fences. Applicant Vedant was firstly curious to know if the Committee was open to filling pool and explained how the change would be beneficial for the hotel and Monterey. Vedant then went into detail about to make. Patel then clarified that previous plants or vegetation facing Munras Avenue were coming from inside the fence and had grown under it, so the proposed plans were not actually decreasing foliage facing Munras Avenue. Patel also described an issue with unhoused individuals sleeping in what was meant to be their trash enclosure and asked to allow the higher fence height there. Patel then responded to Committee questions on changes to the material of the fences, height, addition of a middle support beam, and changes to landscaping. questions regarding the pool. Vedant stated there was no room between the pool fence and the street Architectural Review Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, August 07, 2024 4  Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, August 07, 2024 for landscaping. Public Comments None. Committee Member Comments The Committee expressed sympathy with the applicant having to go through the process of approving their changes with the City of Monterey and then later being told by another governmental agency County Health Department. The Committee asked staff what the process for the applicant would be should the Committee agree both Hill and Roveri responded. Committee Member Ostovar expressed dissatisfaction with the overall project plans not being thorough enough. Ostovar stated this was evident in the resolution of the plans and the previous lack of forethought in the affordability. They also noted that it can be difficult when an item comes up that needs to be changed, but that it was on the applicant to address it. The Committee then stated they want to assist the applicant move forward and they were willing to allow a taller fence for the trash enclosure and allow the applicant to fill in the pool, but that the activities and plans that the applicants have for the areas need to be thoroughly laid out. The Committee discussed the use of the fence around the pool if the pool were to be filled in. Hill responded to a request to clarify how the Committee can go about approving parts or pieces of the project. Vice-chair Pauly went through the proposed changes one-by-one and expressed issue or that they were leaning towards approval. Overall Pauly stated they were leaning towards denial of the project so that the applicant would come back with a landscape plan. Committee Member Ostovar agreed and reiterated a need to see the final plans. Chair Tregenza agreed with Pauly and Ostovar and summed up their requests to the applicants which were to include all the changes to the approved plans and include a planned landscaping buffer facing Munras Avenue. Hill noticed the Committee not willing to accept some changes, but wanting to approve others, and suggested continuing the item to allow the applicant to come back with revised plans. The Committee asked if they were able to make a motion that approved filling in the pool but continued the rest of the requested moderations. Hill responded that it would take applying for another permit amendment to approve one item while continuing others which would be more costly. Hill also stated that staff would like to verify the spacing between the pool fence and Munras Avenue since the applicant stated there was no room between the fence and the street for landscaping. see sketches of plans such as presented, and that they needed a landscape plan that includes property lines and more. The Committee stated requested changes that they were willing to allow like filling in the pool and the fence height, but that they were not willing to approve a plan without substantive landscaping and greenery. The Committee then expressed a desire to see the applicant come back quickly. Architectural Review Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, August 07, 2024 5  Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, August 07, 2024 The Committee then reopened public comment to allow the applicant another opportunity to speak. Public Comments Cont. Patel requested that the ARC allow them to fill the pool in as they claimed it was an eyesore and adversely affecting their business. Patel agreed to other items that may need to be delayed, but heavily requested the ARC allow the pool to be filled in. For clarification Patel asked the ARC what changes to their plans the ARC is looking for and the Committee responded. The Committee asked Patel why the original plans were not executed, and Patel stated the fencing facing Munras Avenue was the approved 5 ft, but the fence on the inside of the property has some height discrepancy. Patel then took ownership of the discrepancy but was also unhappy that the Building Department never notified them that the fence height was incorrect despite visiting the property four times. The The Committee reiterated that they were not opposed to a slightly taller fence and were more focused on receiving finalized plans that the applicant is settled on. The Committee also noted that the applicant may have to get a surveyor to determine how close the fence is to the property line as well as how tall the fence is. On a motion by Vice Chair Pauly, seconded by Committee Member Hunter, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee continued Permit Amendment PA-24-0115 for proposed changes to approved Architectural Review Permit ARP-22-0087 for preliminary and final architectural review of non-structural exterior alterations, fencing, landscaping, and lighting at Monterey Surf Hotel, 1200 Munras Avenue to a date uncertain: AYES: 6 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Tregenza, Pauly, Hunter, Ostovar, Palmer, Sanders NOES: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) ABSENT: 1 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Turgen ABSTAIN: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) RECUSED: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) 6. Confirm Annual Appointments for Chair and Vice-Chair (Not a Project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Annual Appointments for Chair and Vice Chair were confirmed Public Comments None. Committee Member Comments Chair Tregenza thanked the ARC and former member Shelly Schmidt and welcomed Pauly to his new chair appointment. Architectural Review Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, August 07, 2024 6  Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, August 07, 2024 On a motion by Committee Member Hunter, seconded by Chair Tregenza, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee confirmed the appointments of Justin Pauly for Chair and Payam Ostovar for Vice-Chair: AYES: 6 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Tregenza, Pauly, Hunter, Ostovar, Palmer, Sanders NOES: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) ABSENT: 1 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Turgen ABSTAIN: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) RECUSED: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS None. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 7. Planning Update Received. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Principal Planner Chair Architectural Review Committee Architectural Review Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, August 07, 2024 7