Monterey Architectural Review Committee Meeting - March 5, 2025

On March 5, 2025, the Monterey Architectural Review Committee met to review a sign permit for the Stanton Center and handle continuances for two other projects. Committee members present: Palmer, Ostebar, Polly, Sanders; absent: Turgeon, Hunter. Staff present: Planning Manager Hill, Principal Planner Overy, Senior Associate Planner Schmidt, Recording Secretary Argonbre.

Consent Calendar

• The committee approved the minutes from the February 19, 2025, meeting and field trip. Chair Polly abstained as she was not present at that meeting. The motion carried.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-agenda item: Lena Bunsen, a Monterey homeowner, expressed concern about an ADU under construction at 805 Fillmore Street, which she said would block her ocean view, reduce natural light, and include a window facing her bedroom. She urged the committee to reconsider the plans. Staff advised her to contact city staff to understand the ADU process, as administrative ADUs typically do not require ARC review unless specific exceptions apply.
• Item 3 (5 Custom House Plaza): Anna Marie Della Sala Stanton, president of the Italian Heritage Society, spoke in support of the proposed signage. She described the effort to create an exhibit and emphasized the need for visible, eye-level signage to attract visitors, noting that the building currently appears as an office building.

Discussion Items

• Continuance of Items 4 and 5 (20 and 22 Spray Avenue): Staff requested reordering the agenda to address items 4 and 5 first. The applicant had raised concerns about the accuracy of story polls for both projects. The committee voted to continue both items to a date uncertain, with re-noticing required.
• Item 3: 5 Custom House Plaza – Sign Permit for Stanton Center:
  • Senior Associate Planner Chris Schmidt presented the application for nine wall signs (including rotating banners) at the Stanton Center, owned by the Monterey History and Art Association. The signs would identify the museum and rotating exhibits. The proposal required ARC approval due to inconsistencies with sign guidelines: individual signs exceeding 50 square feet (signs D at 66.5 sq ft, E and F at 96 sq ft each), total sign area (453.54 sq ft) exceeding the building frontage (410 linear ft), and more than two wall signs per storefront. Signs would be painted, HD urethane, aluma-clad, or banner materials. The downtown specific plan also recommends minimizing signs and using historically appropriate materials. Staff recommended approval with a condition allowing banner rotation without future ARC review.
  • Applicant Gary Spradlin, board president of the Monterey History and Art Association, explained the need for signage to make the museum visible from the parking lot and street, noting that the building is often mistaken for an office. He clarified that many signs are temporary banners to showcase exhibits.
  • Committee discussion focused on reducing sign clutter. Members expressed support for the museum but suggested removing sign D (facing the plaza) as unnecessary, and revising signs A and B (entrance) to simplify the graphic design. Some members preferred vertical banners (like sign G) for consistency. Others debated color consistency and the placement of permanent versus rotating signs.
  • The committee also discussed that sign content (text and images) could not be regulated, but size, location, and material were within their purview.

Key Outcomes

• Items 4 and 5 (20 and 22 Spray Avenue): Both continued to a date uncertain due to story poll accuracy concerns. Re-noticing will occur.
• Item 3 (5 Custom House Plaza): The committee voted to approve the sign permit (SI-23-0070) with the following modifications:
  • Remove sign D entirely.
  • Strongly recommend that the applicant reconsider the graphic design of signs A and B to reduce visual clutter.
  • Adopt Condition of Approval No. 1 allowing rotating banner signs to be changed without returning to the ARC, provided size and location remain the same.
  • The decision is appealable to the Planning Commission within ten days.
• Future Meetings: The committee noted upcoming reviews on March 18–19, 2025, for 2600 Sand Dunes (landscaping) and 1150 Munras Avenue (signage for America's Best Value Inn).