How do we give us a hug Uh Erica, can you please do a roll call and uh announce staff who are present and provide instructions for online listeners to participate, please?

Sure.

Chair Silva.

Vice Chair Latasa.

Commissioner Bluth.

Commissioner Freeman.

Commissioner Palmer.

Here.

Commissioner Polly.

And Commissioner Stoker.

And our staff members present today are our planning manager, Levi Hill, Principal Planner Fernanda Riveri, Senior Associate Planner Chris Schmidt, and myself, recording secretary Eric Cabrera.

Information on participating in this meeting and providing public comment, including remotely by Zoom or telephone, is on this meeting's agenda, which is online at Monterey.gov forward slash agendas.

Remote commenters will be muted until it's their turn to speak, and a timer will be shown on the screen.

If you're connected on Zoom, the timer is accurate with no delay.

In the chamber, we recommend keeping phones and devices muted to prevent audio interference with the meeting.

Thank you for participating in your city government.

Thank you, Erica.

We'll start by uh um opening up the consent agenda, and we have uh one to four items, and I will start by um item number two approval of minutes.

If there's anybody in chambers or online that may have comments regarding the minutes for the last hearing, you may speak.

So, Chair may recommend just going ahead and taking all the consent items as one item or one action and then opening up to the public to see if anyone would like to remove an item.

That's why I wanted to split it because Terry wasn't here and it might have a different vote than on the other three items.

So Terry, Terry's still able to participate in the vote on the minutes if you'd like to.

Um, and so but okay, so then we can take it.

Okay, very good.

So um let's just do this holistically.

So if there's any member of the public in the chambers or online that uh wishes to speak towards the four items on the consent agenda, you may do so.

Anybody online?

There are no attendees online.

Thank you.

We'll uh bring this back to the uh commission.

Um, do we have any comments?

I'd like to move approval of the consent agenda, all four items.

Do I hear a second?

Yes, second.

So we have a motion to approve by Commissioner Stoker, second by Commissioner Freeman to approve the four items on the consent agenda.

Okay, Chair Silva.

Yes.

Vice Chair Latasa.

Yes.

Commissioner Bluth?

Yes.

Commissioner Freeman, Commissioner Palmer, yes.

Commissioner Polly.

Yes.

Commissioner Stoker.

Yes.

Okay, the consent agenda has been approved.

Did those items other than the minutes, those items are uh appealable to the uh city council with forms available in the planning office and online uh that is 10 days appeal period from today.

Thank you.

Uh now we'll open up uh general public comments.

If there's anybody in chambers or online that wishes to speak to the planning commission regarding an item that is not on today's agenda, you may do so.

Seeing nobody in chambers online, no attendees online.

Okay, very good.

We will uh close the general public comments and open up our first public appearance item.

Um, 2298 Prescott Avenue, architectural review permit application ARP 25-0028 and tree removal permit application.

ART 250250 for the demolition of an existing single family dwelling, construction of a new two-story single-family dwelling, and removal of one tree applicant Christo Stadler, Eric Miller Architects, owner F T K Real Estate, LLC residential single family zoning, low density residential general plan designation, exempt from CEQA.

Chris, would you do the honors, please?

Yes, thank you, Chair Silva.

My name is Chris Schmidt.

I'm a senior associate planner for the city of Monterey, and I've been working with the project applicant on this project.

Uh so yes, we're looking at a new single family dwelling uh and a tree removal.

There's an existing dwelling at this site that is also being proposed for removal to make way for the new dwelling.

Uh so the staff recommendation is that the planning commission adopt a resolution approving the architectural review permit and the tree removal permit.

Just a bit of background about the site.

It is zone R15, has a low density residential general plan designation, and it is a 75 by 100 foot lot at a at 7,500 square feet.

And as you can see on the image on the right, it's located at the corner of Jesse Street and Prescott Avenue, which is in the upper part of New the Moon New Monterey neighborhood.

So again, the project involves demolition of the existing uh 1,400 approximately 1400 square foot single family dwelling and construction of a 3,092 square foot single family dwelling.

The proposed dwelling has approximately 1800 square feet at the first floor in and it also includes a 250 square foot garage, and uh at the second story is approximately a thousand square feet.

And again, one tree is proposed.

That's a Monterey Pine tree.

Again, as I noted, it is located at the corner of Prescott and Jesse Street.

You can see here that the siding of the building is proposed away from the corner side as well as the front yard, which is required by the city's zoning ordinance.

Corner lots generally have greater setbacks than interior lots.

And here we see the first floor plan, which is the ground level floor.

It includes two bedrooms, a bathroom, laundry, living room, kitchen, dining room, a tiled deck that does include a water feature.

It's noted as a reflection pool here, as well as a small seating area below, and a one-car garage with an adjacent exterior but covered parking space.

And at the second floor, oh excuse me, I wrote ground level again, but it is the second floor.

And it includes a primary, the primary master bedroom, closets and storage, a bathroom, an office, a multi-purpose room, a sitting area at the top of the stair here, and an exterior deck.

And here I'm showing the landscape plan for the site.

I'll just note there's a variety of drought tolerant species as well as a number of uh different types of tree plantings, all the different types of maples.

Um, I think there's six new trees proposed with the removal of the tree that I noted being located here due to its proximity to the proposed structure.

Uh the applicant also did provide an arborus report where the arborist found that the tree was in declining health.

I will note I've also circled here three trees that would be proposed to remain.

Um I believe there's an oak here at the bottom right, another pine, and then two other pines here, and then uh there was a pine that was removed here.

Uh it was just dead, so it had been removed a few years ago.

Uh so starting with the elevations, here's the front elevation.

You can see uh the garage door here on the left with that other covered parking space here next to it.

Um, and uh to highlight some of the features, you can see the uh at the main floor, you've got this.

This is uh the window to the living room with a vaulted ceiling at about I think it's about 15 or so feet in height on the interior.

Um, there's the second level deck that's acts accessible from uh the master bedroom and the multi-purpose room.

Um, and just looking at the exterior materials, uh, and I do have a slide that talks about those materials, but we see uh a mix of uh wood texture materials, cement, uh cement fiber uh siding, um, and uh kind of I'll show the color scheme, but it it's it's uh proposed in this muted and and uh natural kind of tones to fit in with the forest uh forested environment.

Um here's the rear elevation, and you can see that deck serving the second story on the right.

Uh the water features located here with access to the kitchen and dining room here, and then uh it does step down to a seating area uh below that deck area.

Um here's the side elevation.

This is the south side that faces Jesse Street.

Uh this would be the primary view from Jesse Street and the uh excuse me, uh Prescott Avenue, uh not Jesse Street.

Um, this would be the primary view from uh the neighborhood across the street, and the other side view, the north side.

So here we see the colors and materials, and it's a it's admitted it's a bit tough to read, but as you can see, there's a variety of different colors and textures of different types of siding, including a darker textured wood or some of the trim features, a lighter textured wood, and these are composite woods, I believe, as well as cement siding features.

The railings are proposed to be a metallic, like a silver metallic color, and then some of the other features, windows and doors are uh to match uh in terms of the color scheme, a bit a bit darker to provide a little bit more uh visibility and uh differentiation from the lighter colors from the siding and cement siding.

Um the applicant did provide a number of renderings.

So this is from the Prescott Avenue perspective, and the Jesse Street perspective.

Here is the tree that is proposed for removal, and as I mentioned, the Project Arc uh Arborist did find this tree to be in uh declining health, and staff can concurred with that finding.

Um after the installation of the story poles, there was a view impact that had been identified.

Uh, the neighbors did contact staff and provided photos, um, and so staff here has shown an estimate of what this view cone is.

This is kind of just the view of the bay here.

Um, interestingly, this is this is uh something that I did and the project architect attempted to see if there was any sort of view.

It's it's it's really hard to see from the sidewalk.

Um, but the neighbors did invite me to their home, and I I did confirm that this is a photo that I took where you could see the bay in the background there.

Uh so there would be an app impact from the project.

Um just worth noting.

This structure here is the existing structure at the lot.

Um, there's kind of a hodgepodge of different styled uh roof lines here, and you can see this gable here is uh, you know, just high enough to kind of reach the horizon uh of the bay there.

Um so this is uh on the right.

I've this is a graphic that was added to your staff report.

Um, the the project applicant did include uh in this site plan the footprint of the existing structure in red, as well as you can see the proposed with the black outline.

Um, and then I overlaid that that estimated view cone there.

Uh and then what's not shown in the staff report is uh highlighted here the orange uh, this is basically the setback requirement.

Um, and I added that to this aerial here.

So the intent here is to show uh what the development footprint is, what's permitted at this site in terms of allowed development, and this would help inform the planning commission as to what sort of changes, if if necessary, if requested by the planning commission could really be made to try to preserve some of that view, so in order to approve the architectural review permit, the planning commission has to make four findings.

The first is that the proposed siding, form mass, and architectural style are appropriate.

Staff made this finding as outlined in the staff report.

The stepped mass and articulated roof lines as well as modulation, reduced the bulk at the corner.

Uh, this contemporary style includes a wood texture sighting and muted tones that are compatible with the homes in the neighborhood and the forested environments.

So staff was able to make that finding.

The next finding is that the views, privacy, and living environment are not unreasonably impaired.

Uh staff will note that that there was an impact identified.

As well as some of those views, including looking at those existing structures and on site, staff uh found that other compliant development standards at this location would have a similar impact, even if the existing structures that are there on site were moved back to actually comply with the setback requirement, you could see that gable would impact that view.

And uh those structures at the front of the lot uh on along the Jesse Street frontage are located almost near the front lot line, um, and are currently non-conforming with respect to the required front yard setback, which is generally going to be 15 feet to your structure main structure and 20 feet to the garage.

So staff found that um similar designs would uh similar development, even single story development would have a similar impact.

Um in addition, the proposal uh does comply with and exceeds some of the minimum setback requirements, including the corner side yard setback, which has less of an impact, but does impact the allowed development footprint as well as the rear setback requirement, which is the requirement in the code is 20 feet.

The proposal here, what they're proposing today is is 26 feet.

The next finding is that the project is consistent with city plans and applicable design guidelines.

Um as I noted at the beginning of the presentation, the project site is designated with the low density general plan land use designation.

So this project is consistent with that single family land use.

I could certainly talk about those if you have any other questions.

Uh and then the last finding relating to the architectural review permit is uh the exterior finished colors, materials, and all other exterior features are appropriate for the site, the neighborhood, and the city.

Uh staff was able to make this finding.

They use a mix of durable materials, muted and natural color palette with wood like and cement siding.

The dark window frames and doors provide a bit of uh it it allows for a more intricate visual interest.

Um there are metal railings that are appropriate and compatible with the proposed materials.

Um, there's minimal exterior lighting and drought tolerant plantings.

Staff was able to make that finding.

As for the tree removal permit, uh, the tree ordinance does have uh does it permit removal of trees for reasonable development.

In the case staff was able to find make that finding due to the declining health of the tree, as well as the project uh footprint does comply with all setback standards.

Staff was able to make that finding.

So, with that, staff recommends approval of the architectural review permit and tree removal permit.

I'm available for questions.

The project applicant is here as well.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chris.

That was an excellent report.

Thank you.

So questions for uh Chris.

I have a question.

Thanks, Chris.

Um, so the uh when you went in the neighbor's house and looked at the view impact, did you see were you able to see if there are any other views that exist from that neighbor's lock?

I only viewed this this view was taken from their kitchen.

Um I had asked them if there were other similar views, they they said there were not.

Uh so I didn't I didn't go much further than the kitchen.

Okay, thanks.

I have a question, Chris.

Um, given that the real the front of this house is on Jesse Street and not Prescott, is there a mechanism?

Should the applicant wish to do an address change?

Um address changes are done through our building department.

I I think they can do that.

I'm not sure.

It's a good question.

It is.

I mean, if if I were a guest and I didn't know where this was, and I had to use like Google maps or whatever, it would it would just take me to Prescott and I would park my car on Prescott and where's the front door?

Sure.

It's just a little confusing.

So any more questions?

Just curious since I'm a newer commissioner.

Why do we have corner lots of stricter setback requirements?

Is that for um pedestrian and traffic safety to do that?

Um yeah, it it it it softens the corner a bit in terms of um visibility at the street corner.

Um exactly, yeah.

One quick question, Chris.

Um I'm looking at the house across the street and the fenestration on that house.

Are those are those clear story windows, or do you actually stand in the kitchen and look out through those windows?

Yeah, no, they're they're just they're normal windows.

Yeah, okay, yeah.

Thank you, Chris.

Would the applicant like to provide a brief presentation?

Hello, my name's Christo Steadler.

I represent Eric Miller Architects.

I'm the lead designer there.

Uh I've been working with Chris and the planning department for a couple years to provide a project for my client that meets you know her family's uh uh requirements and hopefully brings you know a new quality piece of architecture to the the new Monterey.

Uh so I'd like to give a brief presentation.

You could go to the next slide, Chris.

Yeah, so our project is a two-story residence, um, and to try to blend it into the urban environment, the single-story homes that directly surround it.

Uh, Chris and his staff report pointed out very well that we step down these masses with to try to harmonize with the topography, um, and bring it down to a one or 1.5 uh story height when you're met with the project on the neighborhood, which is Jesse Street.

Um so this project in particular, I was worried that the story polls might scare some people.

Uh the story poles are depicted by uh depicting the eaves and not the exterior walls.

So this project has some deep overhangs.

Uh the upper roof deck has a uh a kind of trellis shade structure that extends far out.

And the garage also has a covered kind of carport that makes the building look a little bit more massive um than it will be.

You could go next.

There we go.

So I just wanted to show some transitions between the staking uh the story polls and what the project will really look like.

Uh, because there's a lot of architectural moves and articulation and transparency that uh the story polls don't tell the whole story of.

So you could press next.

Yeah, so here you see that transition, it might look really bulky on on Jesse Street when you look at just the netting, but you could see that we pushed the second story as far back as possible uh so that you know it it's uh not domineering over the neighborhood community.

Um yeah, like you're good.

Yeah, so this is looking at the corner of Prescott, looking at the living room mass.

Um, and what we did is we like I mentioned, we pushed the second store back uh really far, and then we have boxed eaves.

So if you press next, you'll see that um, you know, neighbors walking around uh the Jesse street neighborhood won't even really perceive that second story from a lot of angles.

Um yeah, we can move to the next.

So here, looking from Prescott street, um once again, I would drive by and say, What is this big box?

But there's a lot of interesting movement and material changes happening underneath that rectangular uh roof line you could press next so you see recesses and protrusions and uh you know we the the second story overhangs the first so that there's area for a lot of beautiful landscaping uh Japanese maples and cherry trees um we worked hard to preserve the kind of landmark oak tree that's in the back um uh yeah you could press next so going so regarding the the view as architects and designers we we always hate to uh you know try to to take someone's view uh and it was hard to really see that they had a view being a single story uh house on the other side of the street around the same elevation as our project um but as Chris put together the view cone cuts right through the center of our site so if you look at the the kind of diagram I've outlined in blue the area that would be kind of the only area that we could develop if we try to you know preserve that landmark oak preserve that view we'd be stuck with uh you know an unreasonable amount of development space uh if you look at the staking picture that was provided by Chris taken from uh taken from the neighbor's uh view as Chris mentioned if we were just for metaphorical sake uh to take the building that's there which is a very small single family residence uh uh and if we just moved it back into conformance you could press next you see if we move it back out of the setback that view uh unfortunately is lost anyways so we feel like any reasonable development there um is gonna obstruct that view so moving on to neighborhood character this is the last slide um I actually had the privilege of living 10 houses down from this project while designing it um so I would explore the neighborhood and I took some photos of uh homes that look like they had real uh intent to their design um a lot of them uh were in the mid-century modern style you see some flat roofs some window walls some large masses uh wood siding and then you see our image in the bottom right um and we feel like our design is a contemporary nod to that to that kind of uh architecture that could be found um tucked away in the neighborhood next so yeah in conclusion um our our goal is to to build a residence for our for our client uh her sister lives next door she has plans to sit up on that roof deck and you know drink tea with their sister and and live there you know the rest of her life um uh at Eric Miller Architects we hope to provide uh benchmark for the quality that new Monterey deserves we want to build this really well and we're really excited that we have a client who wants to invest in a in a property and really she spent two or three years uh making sure this this fits into the community and fits her lifestyle.

So we're excited to bring a project of this caliber to the neighborhood thank you thank you Christo any questions for the uh the option I have one question and it's more out of curiosity but you have a um a uh parametric louvered screen that seems to be a prominent design feature.

Yes, the front of the house.

And when I was looking at this, I couldn't help but wonder how do you how do you clean the windows behind that screen?

That's later's problems, I think.

They have these liquid um uh window washing fluids that you can get at like home any attached to a garden hose and you can spray it.

And I think that's probably the only way you're gonna get these windows.

I'll pass that along to the client.

Thank you.

Any questions for uh Christo?

Thank you very much, Christopher.

Thank you.

Um, if there's uh anybody uh in chambers that wishes to speak before this application, please state your name.

Uh thank you, Chair and Commissioners.

Uh my name is Arlene Hardenstein, and I live across the street at 2281 Prescott Avenue in New Monterey.

Uh so I am directly across the street.

Chris did visit our home, and it impacts our view 100%.

Um I want to begin by saying that I support thoughtful reinvestment in our neighborhood, and understand that homeowners have the right to improve their properties.

But my concern with the current proposal is the significant impact it has on our property and its existing ocean view that we have enjoyed for many years.

In Monterey, ocean views are an important part of our coastal character and are considered a shared community resource.

So the proposed height and mass of this rebuild eliminates our view in a way that may be avoidable through thoughtful design adjustments, such as stepping back upper levels, modifying roof lines, or redistributing building volume.

I'd also like to note that this project would would result in a complete and permanent loss of our ocean view, even if we were to build a second story in the future.

The current design of the structure would still block any view that we would have.

This is why sensitivity at this stage of the process is so important.

I'm not asking that the project be denied.

In fact, I'm happy that there's going to be a new build there across the street.

Um, but I would respectfully ask that the commission consider whether a redesign could better balance the homeowners' goals with neighborhood compatibility and established view corridors.

So this project enhances the community rather than create conflict.

Thank you for your time and consideration of protecting Monterey's unique coastal character for all.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Anybody online, Erica?

Uh there are no hands raised.

We will close the uh public appearance item and bring this back to the commission.

Comments?

Okay.

I I hate these.

I do.

I understand losing a view is frustrating.

Um but I also agree with the staff's opinion that developing this site within our rules, no matter what, is going to force a loss of that view unless we say you only get to use half of your lot.

And I don't think that we're in the position to do that.

But I I hate this because they've had their view for a long time, very nicely uh spoken.

Thank you.

Um, but so I hate these.

Very good.

Yeah, and I agree with David on this one.

And I I looked at the the sections and the elevations on there to see if there was 12 foot plate heights or something like that, but they're they're reasonably designed.

Um, and I think it's particularly having worked on these corner lots and knowing the more stringent setbacks, it is a challenge to get any sort of house that meets that is able to max out its square footage and and not do a second story.

So I I feel bad for the neighbor because they are I think when we typically approach these things, we do ask the question have they lost the totality of their view?

And we try to find another piece of view that is available, and in this case, they have a legit beef with the project because it is the totality of their view that they've lost, but I think um for us to shoot down the project based on that, given uh the constraints of the site would be very difficult and I I much so upset about the view I'll say that Eric's office has presented a very nice design um for the neighborhood and for the city and you know we see a lot of a lot of residential design come through here that isn't nearly as thoughtful as this and um I think you guys should be commended because I think uh you're you're right in pointing out that the flagging isn't telling the whole story of that building um there is modulation in the facade there's a sensitive use of materials it's it's it's a well designed structure and it's rather handsome from the street.

Yes um I I agree with uh Justin and David um I think um we're kind of you know this is a new uh world where the planning commission is acting as the ARC now on these kind of projects and so um the the view consideration is always really important but I agree I I don't really see uh any reasonable way to ask this applicant to redesign to preserve this view um and it is a really well designed project it's gonna be a very handsome house and a nice addition to New Monterey I do agree with that Eric.

Yeah I I concur with my fellow commissioners here um I think the really impactful photo is seen as it is today um so this will be a major upgrade to the entire neighborhood um I definitely you know I sympathize with the neighbor these are hard challenging decisions to make I I do have a small sliver of ocean that I get to look at um but understand that uh properties in front of me may come up with the design at some point um so I I do try to take those um considerations seriously um thank you.

I agree with everything this new project is properly cited on the lot beautifully designed and like you say a benchmark for the neighborhood um and it is a shame that the view is so impacted but it doesn't take away from the quality of the project itself.

Yeah I think I agree with all the commissioners on this project and I think Dave hit it I mean it's tough decision and I really do sympathize with the person across the street who's gonna lose her view.

I think Chris um really was able to drive home our situation in that even a one story house is gonna impact on the view and so in this particular case I I just don't see any other option other than just to support the development as it is it's a beautiful building I just wish we could figure out ways where you know we could keep everybody happy my bigger worry is you know when we find that there's multiple neighbors you end up having a view issue and I think we need to address that um in a meaningful but this case um certainly looks um like we should support it um as is I think I concur with the other commissioners' comments I think the most compelling part of the presentation by the applicant was the slide where the existing house moved back to conforming to zoning and even when you did that just this modest one story home with relatively flatish roofs I mean they weren't steep pitch roofs would block the view.

I mean if if that house were built according to zoning when it was built it would have blocked the view.

So that view is really a blessing all these years for the neighbor to enjoy.

Unfortunately, for the neighbor, um uh these are the difficult decisions that planning commissioners like us have to make, but I think that in this case we do have prescribed zoning, building height setback, Fourier ratios, and all of the numerical objectives that this project meets.

And um and it goes beyond just meeting the objectives.

It's it's actually a stellar design.

It's it's and hand hands off to Christo here for um uh all the effort he put into this.

I think it's it's gonna be a real asset to the neighborhood.

And uh I think that uh Monterey should be proud to have uh projects such as this come before us.

So that's those are my comments.

Um would someone like to make a motion?

I will support the staff uh report and the five findings for approval and with the standard conditions of approval as attached to the staff report.

Second, all right.

So we have uh a motion to approve by Commissioner Stoker.

Uh and second by Commissioner Palmer.

Can we get a roll call bill, please, Erica?

Sure, Chair Silva.

Vice Chair Letassah.

Yes.

Commissioner Blut.

Yes, Commissioner Freeman.

Commissioner Palmer?

Yes.

Commissioner Polly.

Yes, Commissioner Stoker.

Yes, okay.

That's been approved.

The decision is appealable to the city council within 10 days.

We have applications online or in our planning office.

Thank you very much and congratulations.

Very, very nice project.

Um, okay, so that uh wraps up our public appearance uh item, and we will turn now to Commissioner Comments.

Can I whine about that building downtown that used to be ordered away?

Is that legal to just basically strip a building, throw a bunch of junky plywood tables in and throw a bunch of views things in there?

Do we need permits for that?

This is the first building on our downtown street.

Totally agree.

It's it's horrifying, it's embarrassing.

Have I said enough?

Keep going.

Um so essentially it's a retail use, which is permitted in the downtown specific plan.

Um, uh, there was some uh I believe there were some issues relating to the building department and some work that was being done there, and I believe they've been um either red tagged or received a stop work order to address those concerns, which were the health and safety concerns associated with um our building permits.

Um, however, as far as the actual use itself, uh our downtown specific plan doesn't dive that far into the details of retail and what is able to be sold and not sold uh under that umbrella of retail uses.

So to answer your question, um, it is a retail is a permitted use in downtown specific plan, specifically that that site.

Um and uh the uh there's some signage there.

I believe they're within compliance of their signage as well for window signage because it has quite expansive windows.

Um, so do you know, as the city with the red tag has the city spoken with the building owner?

Is that like an itinerant use to fill in?

It's our understanding that that's that's the case.

We have had conversations with the building owner, and that is our understanding that this is a uh uh an operator that was moved from a different location, um, when that lease their existing lease ended elsewhere, and was able to move their operation into that vacant space for the time being.

But it's my understanding they're continuing to look for a more more permanent uses for that space, and I believe there's also um an architectural review application for that building as well to uh um convert uh the upstairs portion to residences as well.

So I think that will be coming before this commission at some point as well.

Any other comments?

Whoever prepared these reports, they're so educational.

The one about the fast food non-conformation, you know, the uh food service on the Wave Street locations is so needed.

You know, all I could sell was canned drinks and pumping, and now this is they're able to, you know, sell more uh prepared foods, but just getting around the zoning requirements, it's really educational reading the reports.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

I think um the fast food use classification can scare people when you see that notice.

Um but it's kind of a harmless.

I can do like a Chipotle type thing.

So anyway.

On that one, and it may have been in the report, but so are the food trucks gonna go like in front of the house up on the street?

Are the food trucks gonna pull up behind the building on the rec trail?

So that good question.

So um that was a use permit that was approved by the planning commission in 2023, I believe.

They would park at on the Wave Street frontage, um, either I think on their driveway is where they would be their frontage being because I can see very much upstairs, yeah.

So normally the crowds gather sort of downstairs, somewhat detached from where the food trucks would be.

Right.

Just a comment on that.

I was on planning commission when that business went in there originally, and you were a child.

Um, the comments back then were we wanted nothing to face the rec trail, which made zero sense to me because the rec trail really is a major Monterey street for those of us who want to talk later about bicycles going fast.

Um but the uh it as it's developed, it has related more and more to the rec trail, which I think is fabulous.

Uh, because again, for those of us who use it almost every day, that connection, but getting vehicles, things like that on the rec trail isn't gonna happen to be able to do food truck type.

But it it's interesting that I'm seeing this because that was twenty five years ago or something that went in.

There's a um, you know, they don't want signage facing it, and there's all these sort of uh weird, like I don't know why what the whole intention of that was.

Well, we should look at that at some point because again, the rec trail is a major thoroughfare for us all, and we should look at the leftover things from when the rec trail was first opened up, and again, it was no signage.

No, you weren't supposed to access your business off the rec trail again, all these things that make no sense that it would be really good to look at again because it is a street.

The pedestrian street, it's a mall.

And and if I might add, I can give some context.

The the council at the time, particularly um Councilmember of Reland, who was third grade teacher around the same time, um, really wanted to protect the recreation trail as as um an asset to the residents and the community and make it not a commercial thoroughfare.

So I understand I hear you.

Um, but that's that's what the view was at the time was let's not commercialize this corridor.

But we might want to look at it again because again, what what is it really used as?

And I think it's a fabulous asset to the city.

You know, it reminds me of uh I lived in Santa Cruz for many years, and it reminds me of um the way in which Front Street, which is the first street that parallels the San Lorenzo River, and all of the buildings, all of the retail, all the commercial had their backs to the river and their frontage on the street, and it just was such a shame.

And you look at places like San Antonio, Texas, where it's the reverse, where you know they have the beautiful riverwalk and it activates the whole commercial core district by have by by having all the retail and uh commercial uh being uh very transparent with the river.

So um interesting how there's differences of thoughts about this and um it seemed probably at the time a good idea, but you know, 25 years later um after living with it like that, maybe not so much when we see the success of the outdoor dining in downtown Monterey and how much livelier that made um downtown uh right after that, so right.

Similar ideas like what they're doing with the they have a cafe there, you know, trailside cafe.

I don't know if it's still called that, but busy all the time.

Great to people watch, makes the makes the rec trail safer too I would think on the street people are gonna feel safer walking up yeah it's funny I worked with the company that got that um kind of unfortunate building approved where the cafe is but we have the promise no access to the railway it's just there's gonna be a wall there and everybody's gonna off wave street was a uh heartfelt uh promise where does everybody line up on the right trail.

Um let's see on a on another topic um are there going to be any absences for the next planning commission hearing I believe I am is that the twenty fourth yes it's my daughter's winter break very good.

Uh Leah in this absence or yes you'll be here that's absence.

Information reports yeah absolutely thank you.

Uh so just uh very brief uh recap from city council's uh February third meeting in case you weren't paying attention they did uh announce that we will be receiving a new city manager uh Dante G Hall so uh expected to start at the beginning of April um so it's pretty exciting uh transitional period for the city.

Uh and then also uh tentatively scheduled for our uh next planning commission meeting which I'm now seeing was uh is uh incorrect here is actually just our NCIP consistency analysis so you may recall that our CIP and NCIP projects for the year come before the commission each year for uh consistency with the general plan and any other adopted city plan.

So we'll be bringing that forward for the commission's review and approval.

Thank you.

Thank you, bye.

All right with that uh meeting adjourned