CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA

CITY COUNCIL
Staff Report

December 5, 2017
CONSENT AGENDA

TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members

SUBMITTED BY: Marnie R. Waffle, Senior Planner

APPROVED BY: Chip Rerig, City Administrator

SUBJECT: Consideration of a draft Story-Pole Policy for New Construction.

RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt the Story-Pole Policy.

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
The City does not currently have a written policy regarding the installation of story poles during the design study
process. It has been the past practice of the Community Planning and Building Department to require applicants
to install story poles at least 10-days prior to a public hearing. An informational handout on Netting and Ribbon
Instructions is provided to applicants with basic instructions on when and how to install story poles.

The installation of story poles, also referred to as staking and flagging, allows both neighbors and the reviewing
body to envision potential project impacts. Story poles have proven to be an effective tool in demonstrating the
height, mass, and location of important project elements during the review process. Staff is recommending that
the City adopt a Story-Pole policy that formalizes current practice and provides clear direction on when and how
story poles should be installed.

Staff solicited input from the Planning Commission on the development of the draft Story Pole Policy at their
August, September and November meetings. On November 8, 2017 the Planning Commission passed a
motion recommending that the City Council adopt the draft policy (Attachment A).

Staff Analysis

Current practice is to require installation of story poles for all design study projects which require a public
hearing. Applicants are instructed to have the story poles installed at least 10 days prior to the public hearing. An
informational handout guides applicants on what materials should be used and how they are to be installed.

As part of the development of a formal policy, staff reviewed examples of policies and procedures that other
cities utilize for the installation of story poles. Staff considered the information collected, the Citys current
practice and input from the Planning Commission to inform the draft policy.
The draft policy includes a stated purpose which is: To require the installation of story-poles and netting for
Design Study/Review applications in order to assist decision makers and the public in evaluating the height,
location and extent of proposed development for consistency with local regulations and ordinances. The policy
would apply to all residential and commercial design study/review applications that increase floor area or
structure height or may otherwise impact privacy or views (i.e. decks and balconies).

The draft policy differentiates between design study/review applications that are approved by staff and those
which require a public hearing. For staff-approved projects, story poles and netting would be required for all new
structures, additions and second-story decks that exceed 120 square feet in size. The story poles would be
required to be installed at the time the project is approved and must remain in place until the end of the appeal
period.

For projects requiring a public hearing, story poles and netting would be required to be installed at least 10 days
prior to the public hearing and would remain in place until the end of the appeal period. Additionally, the height of
the story poles would be required to be certified by a licensed surveyor or civil engineer.

Additional provisions of the policy include, allowing the installation of story poles for preliminary project reviews
to be optional; requiring story poles to be reinstalled if a project approval expires and an application to renew the
approval is submitted; and, allowing the Director of Community Planning and Building to waive the requirements
for story poles for staff approved projects only when it can be determined that the project is not visible from the
public way and would not have a negative impact on surrounding properties.

The draft policy also establishes the types of materials that are to be used when installing story poles and
netting. Story poles shall be made of metal poles or 2-inch by 4-inch lumber and braced at the base with
supporting beams to ensure they will withstand weather and remain correctly positioned. Netting shall consist of
2-foot wide construction mesh in bright orange for maximum visibility.

Lastly, the draft policy requires that story poles be placed at all outside building corners and along the roof line.
The policy also requires that chimneys, elevated decks and balconies that extend beyond the footprint of the
structure be identified.

Alternative Options

Based on the Planning Commissions recommendation, staff recommends that the City Council adopt a
Resolution adopting the Story-Pole Policy. However, if the Council determines that additional revisions to the
policy are needed, then the item could be continued with direction given to staff. Substantial revisions to the
policy may benefit from additional Planning Commission review prior to bringing the item back before the City
Council.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The Community Planning and Building Department has determined that the
project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3)
because the adoption of the Story-Pole Policy is covered under the general rule that CEQA only applies to
projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Adoption of this policy will
not result in any potentially significant environmental impacts.

FISCAL IMPACT:
None.

PRIOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION:

None.

ATTACHMENTS:

Attach A Draft Story Pole Policy

Attach B Draft Affidavit of Certification
Draft Resolution
 Attachment
Policy 1
No. 2017-##
Approved: ___________
THE CITY OF
Carmel-by-the-Sea
COMMUNITY PLANNING & BUILDING DEPARTMENT
Administrative Policies & Procedures
Policy No. 2017-##
STORY-POLE POLICY

PURPOSE
To require the installation of story-poles and netting for Design Study/Review applications in order to
assist decision makers and the public in evaluating the height, location and extent of proposed
development for consistency with local regulations and ordinances.

APPLICABILITY AND TIMING OF INSTALLATION

The installation of story-poles and netting shall be required for residential and commercial design
study/review applications that increase floor area or structure height or may otherwise impact privacy or
views (i.e. decks and balconies) as outlined below. Installation of story-poles is optional for preliminary
project reviews.

Staff-Approved Projects (i.e. Design Study/Review, Track One)

Story-poles and netting shall be installed for all new structures, additions and second-story decks
exceeding 120 square feet in size. Story-poles shall be installed prior to the issuance of a Notice of
Approval and shall remain in place until the 10 calendar-day appeal period has ended. Height
certification is not required. The height of existing on-site structures may be used as a reference point
when installing story-poles and netting.

Public Hearing Projects (i.e. Design Study/Review, Track Two)

Story-poles and netting shall be installed at least 10 calendar days prior to the public hearing. The story-
poles and netting shall remain in place until final action has been taken on the project and the 10
working-day appeal period has ended. The highest point of the story poles and netting shall be certified
by a California licensed surveyor or civil engineer prior to distribution of a Public Notice. The Community
Planning & Building Director and/or Planning Commission may require other sections of the story poles
be certified as deemed necessary. An Affidavit of Story-Pole Certification shall be submitted to the
Community Planning & Building Department along with a photograph of the story-poles and netting.

Appeals
If an appeal is filed, the story-poles and netting shall remain in place until the project has been reviewed
by the appeal body and the appeal period for that review has ended.

Permit Expiration
If a Design Study/Review approval expires and an application to renew the approval is submitted, the
story-poles and netting shall be reinstalled in accordance with the Story-Pole Policy.

WAIVER OF REQUIREMENT
The Director of Community Planning & Building may waive the requirement for story-poles and netting
for staff-approved projects only, if it can be seen with certainty that the proposed site/building
modifications are not visible from the public way and/or will not have a negative impact on surrounding
properties.
 Attachment 1
REQUIREMENTS
It is the applicants responsibility to ensure that story-poles and netting are installed consistent with this
policy and placed in a manner which accurately depicts project elements including but not limited to
height, location, mass, and bulk, and that all trees and/or branches proposed for removal are properly
identified.

Materials
Story-poles shall be constructed of metal poles or 2-inch by 4-inch (minimum) lumber. Story-poles shall
be braced at the base with supporting beams to ensure they will withstand weather and remain correctly
positioned. Netting shall be bright orange construction mesh at least 2-feet wide. The first-story finished
floor level shall be demarcated by yellow or pink ribbon.

Identification
Story-poles shall be placed at all outside building corners and along the rooflines of the proposed
structure(s). Architectural elements such as chimneys, elevated decks and balconies that extend beyond
the footprint of the structure shall also be identified. If trees or branches are proposed for removal, they
shall have 1-inch minimum fluorescent pink or red flagging ribbon tied around their most visible portion.
If story-poles, netting and/or flagging ribbons are not installed accurately, staff or the decision-making
body may continue the project review until such time that placement has been corrected.

REMOVAL
All story-poles and netting shall be removed at the end of the appeal period following final action on a
project.

QUESTIONS
For questions, please contact the Community Planning & Building Department at (831) 620-2010.

Page 2 of 2
 Attachment 2

AFFIDAVIT OF
STORY POLE CERTIFICATION
(Must be completed by a California Licensed Surveyor
or Civil Engineer)

On _____________________, I surveyed the story poles and netting located at

Date

___________________________________, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA related to plans

Property Address/Location

submitted as part of a design study/review application ______________________.

Application No.

I have determined that the story poles are in substantial compliance with the project

plans submitted to the Community Planning and Building Department and accurately

represent the proposed construction in terms of dimension, corner/wall locations, and

ridge heights/locations.

I DECLARE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE FOREGOING IS TRUE AND

CORRECT.

Signature Executed on _______________

Date

Name Phone No. (____)____________

Print Legibly

State License No.

Company

Please attach a photograph(s) demonstrating installation of the story poles and netting.
 CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA Attachment 3
CITY COUNCIL

RESOLUTION NO. 2017-___

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA

ADOPTING A STORY-POLE POLICY

WHEREAS, Carmel-by-the-Sea does not currently have a formal written policy regarding the
installation of story-poles during the design study/review process; and

WHEREAS, the installation of story-poles, also referred to as staking and flagging, allows both
neighbors and the reviewing body to envision potential project impacts; and

WHEREAS, story-poles have been proven to be an effective tool in demonstrating the height, mass,
and location of important project elements when evaluating new construction; and

WHEREAS, staff solicited input from the Planning Commission on the development of the draft Story
Pole Policy at their August, September and November 2017 meetings; and

WHEREAS, on November 8, 2017 the Planning Commission passed a motion recommending that the
City Council adopt the draft policy; and

WHEREAS, the attached Story-Pole Policy establishes when and how story-poles should be installed in
order to assist decision makers with evaluating the height, mass and location of important project elements
prior to taking action on a project; and

WHEREAS, the adoption of the Story-Pole Policy is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section
15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-
THE-SEA DOES HEREBY:

Adopt a Story-Pole Policy as set forth in Exhibit A.

PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA this 5th
day of December 2017, by the following roll call vote:

AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:

NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:

ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:

ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS:

SIGNED: ATTEST:

_______________________ ___________________________
Steve G. Dallas, Mayor Ashlee Wright, City Clerk