A planned hotel in Monterey’s North Fremont district is already on hold: On December 21, the Monterey City Council should consider whether to approve plans for a 42-room hotel at 2101 North Fremont St. that will replace an existing 18-room hotel -Hotel should replace. One bedroom motel and restaurant that is now closed, Caruso’s Corner. But because of the threat of litigation, the Council has put it on the table for the time being.

The Monterey Planning Commission approved plans for the hotel on October 12, despite threats of litigation. Monterey’s staff had recommended approving the project despite these threats – they believe the proposed hotel meets all of the codified planning restrictions that the city has in the North Fremont district – but based on notices the city issued on the 17th issue for a later date what the city council did 5-0.

The main points of contention for the planned hotel are parking lot, noise and building height. As planned, the new hotel will have 42 off-street parking spaces – one for each room – as well as an off-street loading zone. That makes it compliant, say employees, with the city’s zone code for hotels. Specifically, this is the District Visitor Accommodation Facilities, which was approved by the Monterey voters in 1986. Among other things, he calls for at least one parking space per hotel room as well as two additional parking spaces for 50 rooms each. It also rules out new hotels on sites that aren’t already hotels unless approved by voters.

In a letter dated December 17, however, architect Henry Ruhnke claims that the project should require at least 44 off-street parking spaces as well as two – not one as suggested – loading zone parking spaces. Ruhnke also argues that the four proposed compact parking lots are inconsistent with North Fremont’s specific plan and that the project should be “adjusted” to increase the compact parking spaces.

Kim Cole, director of community development for Monterey, notes that none of the North Fremont hotels have been upgraded in over 25 years. “We really hope we can improve the future of North Fremont Street,” she says. “It takes some rehabilitation to move it forward.”

Derric Oliver, a lawyer representing the Mahroom family, who own an adjoining apartment building, says the city made a mistake in not setting up story poles to show the project’s spatial footprint. That, combined with parking, “is simply not a combination that my customers are satisfied with.”