Carmel-by-the-Sea Planning Commission continues Verizon/Sequoia deployment design‑review to Feb. 10

The Carmel‑by‑the‑Sea Planning Commission voted to continue a design‑review and use‑permit application for a Verizon/Sequoia deployment to Feb. 10, saying staff needs more time to review technical materials and include recently received information in the staff report.

Chair LePage moved to continue the matter; the motion passed on a roll call vote of 4–1 (Commissioner Alber — Yes; Commissioner Allen — Yes; Commissioner Keri Petcock — No; Commissioner Locke — Yes; Chair LePage — Yes). The commission did not take final action on the design‑review application at the meeting.

During public comment, Christie Hollenbeck said she and the applicant’s attorney, Ariel Strauss, submitted revised diagramming and photo simulations and asked the commission to explain clearly what work staff will do during the continuance. Hollenbeck said the revised materials show Verizon placed a 6‑foot equipment box in the wrong orientation in its photo simulations and characterized the applicant’s submission as “not lawful or accurate.”

Pete Shubin of Sequoia Deployment Services, the applicant’s representative, said he was present to answer questions but had no comment on the continuance.

After the vote, a staff member identified in the transcript as “Steph” explained that staff is working with an outside consultant to review the technical information, that additional information had been received, and that staff wants to ensure that the new material is included in the staff report to make the record complete for the commission’s findings.

The chair said the item will be continued to Feb. 10. The commission also announced a regular meeting on Feb. 11 and a Feb. 18 special meeting to review residential design guidelines.