Arcata’s Planning Commission on Dec. 9 approved a master sign plan and a Class 1 CEQA exemption to allow Eco Groovy to install a 44.4-square-foot wall sign plus 16 square feet of existing window decals, bringing the storefront’s total permitted signage to 60.4 square feet.

Planner Kelsey Flitterick told commissioners the site sits within the commercial central Arcata Plaza Historic District and occupies a roughly 5,750-square-foot lease area on a frontage created by a 2020 parcel merger. She said the larger continuous facade is compatible with larger signage and that the proposed sign would not obscure architectural features, would be made from an aluminum composite with a clear finish, and would project no more than 12 inches from the wall. Flitterick also recommended adopting the Class 1 categorical exemption and approving the findings, conditions and plan set as proposed. "Window signage is included in the calculation for sign square footage," Flitterick said, clarifying how the 60.4-square-foot total was computed.

The applicant, Jace Walker, described a temporary banner that remained while managing significant personal circumstances and said community complaints prompted a formal application. "I just love this community, and I appreciate the opportunity to be reviewed and be approved," Walker said, explaining the desire for a permanent, well-designed sign that fits the building and supports the business.

Commissioners and staff discussed enforcement and precedent. Staff said sign enforcement is complaint-driven and that some larger signs in the plaza likely predate current regulations and are effectively grandfathered. A commissioner asked whether similar variances have occurred in the plaza; Flitterick said she was not aware of prior master sign plan approvals in the plaza itself. Commissioners noted the city’s 20-square-foot standard can feel mismatched to larger, merged facades, and asked staff to compile historical permit data as the city updates its land-use code.

A motion to adopt the Class 1 CEQA exemption and approve the project based on the findings, conditions and project plans was made and seconded; the chair called for the vote and commissioners answered "Aye." The chair announced the sign was approved. The record shows the commission also approved the minutes from the Oct. 28, 2025 meeting on the consent calendar earlier in the session (the consent vote was recorded as four ayes and one abstention).

During general correspondence, the chair reported contact from the California State Office of Brownfields offering jurisdictional presentations; staff said they will coordinate with engineering and environmental services and explore regional participation. With no further business the commission exchanged farewell remarks and adjourned.

Votes at a glance
• Consent calendar (approval of 10/28/2025 minutes): recorded as four ayes, one abstention.
• Eco Groovy master sign plan and CEQA Class 1 exemption: motion passed; chair recorded "Aye" votes and announced the sign was approved.

What’s next
Staff agreed to gather historical sign-permit information and flagged the land-use code as a potential topic for future commission discussion to address facade-size mismatches with the 20-square-foot standard.