Architectural Review Committee Meeting

MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE Wednesday, May 21, 2025 4:00 PM 6:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER AND ZOOM TELECONFERENCE MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Members Present: Hunter, Ostovar, Palmer, Pauly, Sanders Members Absent: Turgen Staff Members Present: Planning Manager Hill, Principal Planner Roveri, Principal Planner Sabdo, Senior Associate Buggert, Recording Secretary Arganbright CALL TO ORDER Chair Pauly called the meeting to order at 4:01 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. April 16, 2025 Meeting (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 Vice Chair Ostovar, seconded by Committee Member Palmer, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee approved the CONSENT ITEMS as submitted: AYES: 5 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Hunter, Ostovar, Palmer, Pauly Sanders NOES: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) ABSENT: 1 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Turgen ABSTAIN: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) RECUSED: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) General Public Comment None On a motion by Chair Pauly, seconded by Committee Member Palmer, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee reordered agenda items to be as follows: #5, #7, #6, #3, and #4.: AYES: 5 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Hunter, Ostovar, Palmer, Pauly Sanders NOES: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) ABSENT: 1 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Turgen ABSTAIN: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) RECUSED: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None)  Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, May 21, 2025 5. Consider 487 Foam Street: Architectural Review Permit ARP-24-0168 to Update and Repair Exterior Doors and Windows at an Existing Hotel; Applicant Vincent Balestreri; Owner Inns of Cannery Row; Visitor Accommodation Facility (VAF) Zoning District; Visitor Accommodation Facility General Plan Designation (Exempt from CEQA per Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1) Action: Approved Architectural Review Permit ARP-24-0168 to Update and Repair Exterior Doors and Windows at an Existing Hotel at 487 Foam Street as submitted. Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions Senior Associate Planner Buggert presented the Agenda Report. Applicant Applicant Vincent hoped they would consider to approve. Public Comments None Committee Member Comments None On a motion by Chair Pauly, seconded by Vice Chair Ostovar, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee approved Architectural Review Permit ARP-24-0168 to Update and Repair Exterior Doors and Windows at an Existing Hotel at 487 Foam Street as submitted: AYES: 5 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Hunter, Ostovar, Palmer, Pauly, Sanders NOES: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) ABSENT: 1 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Turgen ABSTAIN: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) 7. Consider 2102 N Fremont Street; Sign Permit Application SI-24-0226 for Four Wall Signs and One Vehicle-Oriented Freestanding Sign; Applicant Tommy Yoon; Owner Harish S and Parul H Panchal; Visitor Accommodation Facility Zoning District (VAF); Visitor Accommodation Facility General Plan Land Use Designation (Exempt from CEQA per Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1) Architectural Review Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 21, 2025 2  Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Action: Approved Sign Permit Application SI-24-0226 for Four Wall Signs and One Vehicle-Oriented Freestanding Sign at 2102 N Fremont Street as conditioned. Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions Senior Associate Planner Buggert presented the Agenda Report. Applicant None Public Comments None Committee Member Comments None On a motion by Chair Pauly, seconded by Committee Member Hunter, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee approved Sign Permit Application SI-24- 0226 for three Wall Signs and One Vehicle-Oriented Freestanding Sign at 2102 N Fremont Street as conditioned: AYES: 5 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Hunter, Ostovar, Palmer, Pauly, Sanders NOES: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) ABSENT: 1 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Turgen ABSTAIN: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) 6. -381-049-000); Architectural Review Permit ARP-23-0048 to Allow Two Detached Accessory Dwelling Units Located Above Proposed Carports; Applicant Paul Davis; Owner Bruno Michael A & Concettina R Trs; R-3-6 Zoning District; Medium Density Residential General Plan Land Use Designation (Exempt from CEQA per Article 19, Section 15303, Class 3) Action: Approved Architectural Review Permit ARP-23-0048 to Allow Two Detached Accessory Dwelling Units Located Above Proposed Carports at 384 Larkin Street with conditions with a reduced maximum height of 1-foot. Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions Senior Associate Planner Buggert presented the Agenda Report and answered Committee parking requirements in the Old Town Neighborhood Plan, ARC purview, the height of the project, what counted towards the project s floor-area-ratio, and provided examples of complaints addressed in the second public comment letter. Planning Manager Hill also assisted in answering questions regarding objective standards for ADUs in the Old Town Neighborhood Plan and ADU height limits. Applicant Applicant Paul Davis stated the history of the project and that they would be willing to accept a condition to bring the height of the proposed project down if it is not in line with the existing apartments on the site. Davis reconfirmed for the Committee that it was possible to lower the Architectural Review Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 21, 2025 3  Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, May 21, 2025 roof height, but that it may require a roof pitch that does not match the primary structure. Davis then responded that the building is cantilevered in large part so that they could accommodate the trash enclosure. Public Comments Neighbor Bob Janssen stated they were losing 90% of their view and had issues with privacy and suggested changing the roof pitch to a flat roof. Janssen stated the proposed project and future inundation of development would dampen the aesthetics of the area and Monterey. Molly Erickson restated the policies in the Old Town Neighborhood Plan apply to the project and that the project as proposed does not comply with the Old Town Neighborhood Plan. Erickson stated the ARC has full discretionary review of the project due to the height proposed. Committee Member Comments The Committee expressed appreciation for the applicant willingness to lower the height. The Committee also noted that the project site did not face the street and was consistent in style with the adjacent apartment. The Committee reaffirmed the project fits the objective design standards, that the proposed ADU units are much needed in Monterey. The Committee discussed options as to how much the height of the structure could be reduced. Buggert stated how the ADU development standards and Objective Design Standards differ in maximum allowable height. Hill also explained how a reduction in height of the project would affect the design standards. The Committee expressed a desire to have the applicant drop the grade of the project by 1 foot while keeping the same roof pitch to match the primary structure. Hill responded to a committee request for clarification on the design standards versus what standards are included in the Downtown Area Plan. On a motion by Committee Member Hunter, seconded by Committee Member Sanders, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee approved Architectural Review Permit ARP-23-0048 to Allow Two Detached Accessory Dwelling Units Located Above Proposed Carports at 384 Larkin Street with conditions and reduced maximum height of 1-foot: AYES: 5 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Hunter, Ostovar, Palmer, Pauly, Sanders NOES: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) ABSENT: 1 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Turgen ABSTAIN: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) 3. Consider 1099 Del Monte Avenue; Sign Permit Application SI-25-0016 for the Replacement of Two Sign Faces on an Existing Pole-Mounted Sign Structure; Applicant Jon Mata; Owner Julie M Gorman & Jeanne L McWhorter, Trustees; Community Commercial (C-2) Zoning District; Commercial General Plan Land Use Designation; Exempt from CEQA per Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1 Architectural Review Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 21, 2025 4 Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Action: Continued Sign Permit Application SI-25-0016 for the Replacement of Two Sign Faces on an Existing Pole-Mounted Sign Structure at 1099 Del Monte Avenue to a date uncertain. Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions Senior Associate Planner Buggert presented the Agenda Report and answered Committee which party was supposed to provide the survey and what the applicant provided. Hill stated staff does not have licensed surveyors qualified to make determinations on whether the sign is in the public right-of-way or on private property. Applicant Applicant Jon Mata stated that lowering the sign would make the area less safe for pedestrians. Mata asked that the ARC approve the project. Public Comments Owner Julie Gorman stated that the sign is entirely on private property and that the sign did not need to be brought into conformity with the citywide Sign Guidelines because it would impede . Gorman stated that the sign needs to be higher than 8 feet for safety reasons and that staff have recommended approval for other similar projects. Gorman emphasized the potential dangers of reducing the height of the sign. Gorman requested that the ARC approve the sign as proposed. Committee Member Comments The Committee requested to see the survey provided by the applicant. The Committee discussed the logistics and traffic surrounding the project site. The Committee debated potential avenues for the project including denial, continuance, approval, and what those would entail. The Committee discussed their purview. The Committee expressed a desire to bring the sign into conformance, while also making sure the area is safe. The Committee discussed recommending continuing the project and requiring a survey. Hill and Buggert assisted with questions on the potential process if the sign was found to be in the -of-way versus what the process would be to continue the project. The Committee discussed whether they would approve the sign if the survey states the sign is fully on private property. The Committee requested that someone from the City speak to the potential traffic issues at a future meeting. On a motion by Committee Member Hunter, seconded by Committee Member Palmer, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee continued Sign Permit Application SI-25-0016 for the Replacement of Two Sign Faces on an Existing Pole-Mounted Sign Structure at 1099 Del Monte Avenue to a date uncertain, pending the submission of a site survey: AYES: 5 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Hunter, Ostovar, Palmer, Pauly, Sanders NOES: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) ABSENT: 1 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Turgen ABSTAIN: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (None) Architectural Review Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 21, 2025 5  Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, May 21, 2025 4. Consider 104 Tide Avenue; Permit Amendment Application PA-25-0033 for Architectural Review of a Side Yard Setback Variation to allow a Second Story Balcony at an Existing Single-Family Residence; Applicant Paul W. Davis, Owner Kumar Shuchita & Puneet Trs; R-1-6-D1 Zoning District; Low Density Residential General Plan Land Use Designation (Exempt from CEQA per Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1) Action: Continued Permit Amendment Application PA-25-0033 for Architectural Review of a Side Yard Setback Variation to allow a Second Story Balcony at an Existing Single-Family Residence at 104 Tide Avenue to the June 4th, 2025 ARC Meeting. Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions Principal Planner Sabdo presented the Agenda Report and answered a Committee Member question to clarify that the project was already built. Applicant Applicant Paul Davis ap was all glass, so it does not add mass to the front of the building. Davis then described the history of the project. The meeting had to be adjourned due to technical issues in the Council Chambers and the item was continued to the June 4th, 2025 ARC Meeting. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:02 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Planning Manager Chair Architectural Review Committee Architectural Review Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 21, 2025 6