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Planning Commission Meeting

Regular Meeting

Monterey, CA · March 10, 2026

AgendaMinutesPacket

Minutes

Docusign Envelope ID: 4E7182DA-35D9-42F3-9D35-565504A0CBF6 MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday, March 10, 2026 4:00 – 5:30 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, 580 PACIFIC STREET MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Silva, Latasa, Bluth, Freeman, Pauly, Stocker Absent: Palmer Staff Members Present: Planning Manager Hill, Principal Planner Roveri, Principal Planner Sabdo, Senior Associate Planner Schmidt, Deputy Public Works Director & City Engineer Easterling, Recording Secretary Barrera ***Afternoon Session Agenda Only*** 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER Chair Silva called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Recording Secretary Barrera 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. Chair Silva announced to the public that he had received a request to reorder the agenda and stated that item 4 would be the first public hearing item to be considered. CONSENT AGENDA Public comment on the Consent Item was solicited but not received. On a motion by Commissioner Stocker, seconded by Commissioner Freeman, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved the Consent Agenda: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Silva, Latasa, Bluth, Freeman, Pauly, Stocker NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Palmer ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None CONSENT: APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. February 24, 2026 Meeting Minutes (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20 Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5 Section 15061) Action: Approved as submitted GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS Public comment on non-agendized matters was solicited but not received. The Commission requested to switch items 3 and 4. PUBLIC HEARING Docusign Envelope ID: 4E7182DA-35D9-42F3-9D35-565504A0CBF6 4. Recommend the City Council Find the 5-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Fiscal Year 2026/27 Consistent with the General Plan, Area Plans, Master Plans, Specific Plans, Coastal Plans, Traffic Calming Plans, and Move Monterey Multimodal Plan (Exempt from CEQA per Article 19, Section 15301, 15302, 15306; Not a Project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061; or Initial Study Mitigated Negative Previously Prepared and Certified) Action: Approved a Resolution Recommending that the City Council Find the 5-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Fiscal Year 2026/27 Consistent with the General Plan, Area Plans, Master Plans, Specific Plans, Coastal Plans, Traffic Calming Plans, and Move Monterey Multimodal Plan Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Principal Planner Sabdo presented the Agenda Report and Deputy Public Works Director and City Engineer Easterling responded to Commissioners’ questions regarding the location of cooling towers. Public Comments Public comment was solicited but not received. Commissioner Comments None. On a motion by Commissioner Stocker seconded by Vice-Chair Latasa, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission approved a resolution recommending that the City Council approve that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26 neighborhood and community improvement program is consistent with the general plan, specific plans, area plans, master plans, coastal plans, traffic calming plans, and move Monterey multimodal plan: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Silva, Latasa, Bluth, Freeman, Pauly, Stocker NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Palmer ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None 3. Accepting the 2025 General Plan Annual Report for Review and Comment (Not a Project Under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Accepted the 2025 General Plan Annual Report with Concern that Water is Not Being Released for Development Until the Cease and Desist Order is Modified and Directed Staff to Dialogue with the City Attorney About the Issue Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Principal Planner Sabdo presented the Agenda Report and Planning Manager Hill answered Commissioner’s questions regarding the state’s cease and desist order, Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) upcoming housing plans, and the adoption process of the Local Coastal Program (LCP). Public Comments Public comment was received from: Laura Davis, Gabriel Saunders, Diane Coward, Melodie Chrislock, and Monique Olson. Commissioner Comments Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, March 10, 2026 2 Docusign Envelope ID: 4E7182DA-35D9-42F3-9D35-565504A0CBF6 The Commission discussion centered around the water issue as well and the general concern that water is not being released for development until the Cease and Desist Order is lifted or modified. Mr. Hill advised that reconsideration of the Council-adopted water policy was not part of the General Plan annual report review. Ultimately, the Planning Commission adopted a resolution accepting the 2025 General Plan Annual Report for review and public comment. The Planning Commission motion included a statement that the Commission is concerned about what the Commissioners characterized as the “hold- up” in the release of water allocations and directed staff to dialogue with the City Attorney about the issue. On a motion by Vice-Chair Latasa seconded by Commissioner Bluth, and carried by the following vote, the Planning Commission accepted the 2025 General Plan Annual Report with concern that water is not being released for development until the cease and desist order is modified and directed staff to dialogue with the city attorney about the issue: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Silva, Latasa, Bluth, Freeman, Pauly NOES: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Stocker ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Palmer ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Vice-Chair Latasa request staff agendize a discussion about water. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS Mr. Hill provided an update. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Levi Hill Chair Planning Manager Planning Commission Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, March 10, 2026 3

Agenda

Commissioners Planning Commission Peter Silva (Chair) Meeting Agenda Terry Latasa (Vice Chair) Robert Bluth Tuesday, March 10, 2026 Sandra Freeman Eric Palmer 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Justin Pauly Council Chamber, 580 Pacific St. David Stocker Monterey, California HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING: • Written comment: Members of the public may submit comment(s) to planning@monterey.gov until ½ hour before the start of the meeting. These messages are not read aloud during the meeting but are made available to the meeting body and public at https://monterey.gov/submitted-comments. All comments received become part of the record. • In-Person: Please see the meeting location listed above. • Remote via ZoomGov Webinar: o Join on a computer or smartphone: https://monterey- org.zoomgov.com/j/1619908039 An up-to-date version of the Zoom software must be used. o Or join by telephone: Dial 833-568-8864 (Toll Free), 669-254-5252 (Campbell, CA) or 646-828-7666 (NY). If one number doesn’t work, please try another. ▪ Enter Webinar ID: 161 990 8039 # ▪ If prompted to enter a participant ID, press # ▪ To “raise your hand,” dial *9. Once called upon, dial *6 to unmute o Need help using or updating Zoom? Read our Zoom Meeting Instructions (PDF) • This meeting will also stream live for viewing only on youtube.com/cityofmonterey (10 second delay) and on Comcast Channel 25 (up to 90-second delay). PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEDURES AND TIME LIMITS: The total amount of time allocated for public comment on a particular issue and for each individual speaker is generally as follows: 1. Up to three minutes per speaker. 2. For regular Planning Commission meetings, there are two 15-minute public comment periods, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Speakers may only comment during one session. 3. The total time allocated for public comment: a. Items pulled from the consent agenda – 15 minutes each item b. Public Appearance items – 30 minutes each item c. Public Hearing items – 30 minutes each item At the time an item is considered, the Chair will ask those attending the meeting in person to line up at the podium or raise their hands, and for remote participants to use *9 on the telephone or the “raise hand” function in Zoom, if they wish to address the Planning Commission. The maximum amount of time for each person to speak and the total amount of time allotted for each item will be determined based on the number of people indicating an interest in speaking and the amount of business to be conducted on the agenda. In exceptional circumstances and when necessary to ensure a full opportunity for public input, the Chair may, with the Planning Commission’s consent, adjust the amount of time allowed for public input and/or the time allotted for each speaker. FIELD TRIP The Planning Commission will not conduct a field trip to review the March 10, 2026 PC meeting agenda. For more information, call (831) 646-3885. Date Posted: March 6, 2026 ***Afternoon Session Agenda Only*** 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER 1. Meeting Procedures CONSENT AGENDA All matters listed under Consent Agenda are routine and will be adopted by one motion unless a member of the Planning Commission or the public requests discussion or a separate vote. Approval of Minutes 2. February 24, 2026 ***End of Consent Agenda*** GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS The public may speak to any item that is not on the agenda and that is in the City of Monterey’s subject matter jurisdiction. PUBLIC HEARING Public Hearings are held to receive a staff presentation and public comment on certain items prior to Planning Commission action. NOTICE CONCERNING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS: If you challenge the Planning Commission’s zoning, planning, or land use decision in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing on the matter, or in written correspondence delivered to the City at the time of or prior to the public hearing. (Government Code section 65009.) 3. Accepting the 2025 General Plan Annual Report for Review and Comment (Not a Project Under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) 4. Recommend the City Council Find the 5-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Fiscal Year 2026/27 Consistent with the General Plan, Area Plans, Master Plans, Specific Plans, Coastal Plans, Traffic Calming Plans, and Move Monterey Multimodal Plan (Exempt from CEQA per Article 19, Section 15301, 15302, 15306; Not a Project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061; or Initial Study Mitigated Negative Previously Prepared and Certified) Planning Commission 3/10/2026 4:00:00 PM 2 COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioners may ask a question for clarification, make a brief announcement, or make a brief report on their activities. In addition, a Commissioner or the Planning Commission may provide a referral to staff or other resources for factual information. (Government Code section 54954.2(a)(3).) INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS Staff may make announcements and may request clarification or direction regarding the scheduling of meetings and study sessions. 5. Planning Office Update ADJOURNMENT Writings distributed for discussion or consideration on these matters within 72 hours prior to the meeting, pursuant to Government Code § 54957.5, are available at: monterey.org/submitted-comments and in the Planning Office at 570 Pacific St., Monterey, CA 93940 during regular business hours. Information distributed to the Planning Commission at the Planning Commission meeting becomes part of the public record. Planning Commission 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. CITY OF MONTEREY'S 24-HOUR SUGGESTION HOTLINES: Voicemail: (831) 646-3799 Fax: (831) 646-3793 Email: suggest@monterey.gov WebPage: http://www.monterey.gov INTERPRETATION: The Planning Commission invites and encourages public participation at its meetings. Requests for language interpretation may be made by contacting the City Clerk at cityclerk@monterey.gov or 831-646-3935. The City Clerk will make every effort to accommodate requests for interpreter assistance. Requests should be made as soon as possible in advance of any meeting of the Planning Commission. The City is committed to addressing language interpretation requests swiftly in order to maximize public participation. ACCESSIBILITY: The City of Monterey is committed to including people with disabilities in all of its services, programs and activities. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, including to coordinate the use of a hearing device, please contact cityclerk@monterey.gov or (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 II]. Later requests will be accommodated to the extent feasible. For communication-related assistance, dial 711 to use the California Relay Service (CRS) to speak to City offices. CRS offers free text-to-speech, speech-to-speech, and Spanish-language services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. CITY OF MONTEREY 24-HOUR SUGGESTION HOTLINES: (831) 646-3799 or suggest@monterey.gov Upcoming city meetings are listed at monterey.gov/agendas For more information, call (831) 646-3885 Planning Commission 3/10/2026 4:00:00 PM 3

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