Montebello planning commission approves conditional use permit for Alta art gallery at Montebello Town Square

The Montebello Planning Commission voted unanimously Aug. 19 to conditionally approve a conditional use permit for the Alta, a private art gallery proposed by Ultimate Health Services, and recommended the City Council approve a related development agreement.

Planning manager Viviana Esparza told the commission the action before them was a conditional use permit, CUP PC-2024-0012-CUP, to allow a private art gallery in an existing commercial unit at 1401 North Montebello Boulevard and that staff recommended adoption of a resolution approving the CUP and recommending city council approval of development agreement No. 03-24. Esparza also said staff determined the project qualified for a Class 1 CEQA categorical exemption for existing facilities (CEQA Guidelines §15301) and that approval of the development agreement was covered by the “common sense” exemption (CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3)).

The Alta will occupy about 15,668 square feet of the second-floor mezzanine within an approximately 105,000-square-foot tenant space at the Montebello Town Square Shopping Center. Ultimate Health Services will convert the mezzanine to exhibition and accessory spaces, keep administrative functions in the building, and construct site improvements including a new trash enclosure, an ADA-accessible parking space, and an entrance canopy. Esparza said the shopping center provides 1,225 on-site parking spaces; the city’s off-street parking standards require 367 spaces for the combined uses, and staff concluded adequate parking will remain available.

Verenice Nunez Constant, senior vice president of government relations and external affairs for Ultimate Health Services, described the Alta as a cultural and community hub to display Chicano, Latino and Latin American art, host workshops and educational programming and “bring health and culture together so that every patient feels welcomed, and seen.” She said the gallery’s regular hours are proposed as Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with special events outside those hours and that the organization intends to open exhibits to the public for scheduled events. Ultimate representatives told commissioners the building meets current ADA standards and that accessible parking and elevator access would serve the second floor.

The applicant also committed a $200,000 public benefit to the city as part of the development agreement and provided letters of support. Nunez Constant said the project had secured support from 31 people and organizations, including AltaMed, which appears in the meeting materials as a letter of support.

Four public speakers addressed the commission, all in support. William Moreno, a District 4 resident and longtime Montebello resident, said Ultimate has a history of collecting Latino art for community display and urged the commission to approve the project. Greg Gonzales, a Montebello resident and high school art teacher, told commissioners the gallery would “add vibrancy, community and culture.” Mauricio Ramos Aviles spoke on behalf of Adventist Health Memorial Montebello in support, and Dr. Siraco Pinedo, president and CEO of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, said arts institutions can drive economic activity while providing cultural affirmation.

After public comment, a commissioner moved to adopt the staff-recommended resolution to conditionally approve CUP PC-2024-0012-CUP, recommend City Council approve development agreement No. 03-24 with Ultimate Health Services Corporation, and find the project exempt from CEQA per the cited guidelines. The motion passed on a roll-call vote: Commissioner Lopez — aye; Commissioner Cuevas — aye; Commissioner Morales — aye; Vice Chairperson Lomeli — aye; Chairperson Medina — “With high hopes, aye.” The commission’s action is a discretionary approval and the development agreement and final entitlements require City Council review and any required building and safety and fire department plan checks.

Commissioners asked staff and the applicant about public access, hours, ADA access and parking; Ultimate representatives said they will coordinate with the city on scheduling special public events and that general public access would be limited to those preannounced exhibits and events. Staff confirmed all structural and tenant improvement plans will be reviewed through the city’s Building and Safety Division and checked against current codes.

The commission’s approval forwards the CUP and the development agreement recommendation to the City Council for final action.