Scottsdale DRB approves Mon Cherie exterior design, removes two stipulations on striped awnings

The Scottsdale Development Review Board on a 7-0 vote approved exterior modifications at Mon Cherie, a restaurant in Old Town, and agreed to remove two staff stipulations that would have required changes to the restaurant’s striped awnings and color palette.

The vote approves case 8-DR-2025 (Mon Cherie) after the property owner acknowledged unpermitted work performed before the restaurant opened in 2024 and sought retroactive approval. The applicant asked the board to delete stipulations 5 and 6 that staff had proposed to enforce muted desert tones and solid-color awnings; the board amended the motion to remove those stipulations and passed it unanimously.

Board review focused on whether Mon Cherie’s striped awnings and bold colors fit Old Town’s design character or undercut the city’s Old Town urban design and architectural guidelines. Jason Katz, current planning staff, told the board the building’s “green and white” striping and bright colors were inconsistent with the Old Town guidance calling for muted desert colors and lower visual reflectance values, and that prior unpermitted work prompted a notice of violation.

Taylor Earl, representing the applicant, said Mon Cherie seeks to operate as an immersive dining experience designed to complement surrounding storefronts and drive pedestrian activity. Earl argued the design fits a local “French cafe” subdistrict near Arcadia Farms and cited positive public reaction to the restaurant. "Delicious food plus the prettiest vibes equals an Instagram girly's dream," Earl told the board as an example of the establishment’s public reception.

Board members debated two practical questions: (1) whether similar striped awnings already exist nearby without formal approvals, and (2) whether granting approval for this case would create an effective precedent for the rest of the block. Brad Carr and other staff noted that some nearby awnings may lack formal approvals but emphasized guidelines are advisory and that the city’s records vary by property.

Several board members said the design fits the block’s context and enhances walkability. Vice Chair Brand said the board should weigh the guidelines’ built-in flexibility against the specific streetscape context. Board Member Mason and Board Member Robinson both expressed support for approval, and Mason asked staff to consider future code or guideline updates to address recurring Old Town design questions.

The formal action amended the applicant’s approval to remove stipulations 5 and 6, and the board recorded a unanimous vote in favor. The board also asked staff to return at a later meeting with a nonaction discussion item to consider whether Old Town design standards need adjustments to guide consistent outcomes for awnings and storefront character.

The board’s action grants Mon Cherie retroactive approval of its exterior modifications subject to the remaining staff stipulations and any technical corrections required by staff, while removing the two specific requirements the applicant contested. The record shows staff issued a notice of violation for prior unapproved work; the approval does not retroactively void that enforcement record but resolves the pending development-review approval for the current exterior as decided.

A follow-up discussion item on broader Old Town design guidelines was suggested so staff and board members can identify criteria that would make review outcomes more predictable for property owners and tenants.