N40 Story Pole Exception
PREPARED BY : J OEL PAULSON
Community Development Director
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney Finance
_________________________________________________________________________
C:\Users \slombardo \Desktop \8 N40 StoryPoleException.docx Reformatted: 5/30/02
MEETING DATE: 0 4 /05 /16
ITEM NO : 8
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: MARCH 30 , 2016
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: PROPERTY LOCATION: NORTH FORTY SPECIFIC PLAN AREA: PHASE 1
CONSIDER A REQUEST TO MODIFY A PREVIOUS APPROVAL OF AN
EXCEPTION TO THE STORY POLE POLICY FOR THE PHASE 1 NORTH
FORTY DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS . APNS: 424 -07 -024 T HROUGH
027, 031 THROUGH 037, 070, 083 THROUGH 086, 090, AND 100 .
RECOMMENDATION :
Consider a request to modify a previous approval of an exception to the Story Pole Policy for the
Phase 1 North Forty development proposal .
BACKGROUND :
Historically, story poles have been used for two purposes. The primary purpose is to help
illustrate proposed building locations and heights for pending development applications.
Additionally, the story poles help alert the community of development applications that are
sc heduled for consideration at a public hearing.
The Town Council considered a story pole exception request for the Phase 1 development
applications for the North Forty Specific Plan Area on February 16, 2016 . The Council
approved the applicant’s request w ith the following modifications (Attachment 1):
The story poles are required to remain in place for 60 days from the date the notices are
sent for the Pla nning Commission public hearing; and
Six additional buildings propos ed towards the center of the site must hav e story pole s to
provide a more complete representation of the project .
DISCUSSION :
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: NORTH 40 SPECIFIC PLAN AREA PHASE 1 – STORY POLE EXCEPTION
MODIFICATION
APRIL 5 , 2016
The applicant has generally complied with the Council -approved story pole exception; however
certain poles were not installed due to field conditions (see highli ghted pole locations on
Attachment 2 ). The story pole plan previously provided to the Town Council by the applicant
did not take into account the necessary guy wires for installing the poles around the existing
structures along Los Gatos Boulevard. The safety supports for these poles and netting require
the placement of guy wires that would conflict with access and safe use of these pro perties by the
existing tenants. The affected buildings include three residences and one commercial operation
(Bartlett Tree Experts).
The applicant was unaware of the conflicts prior to notification of the Planning Commission
hearing for March 30, 2016. The applicant is requesting a modification to the original story pole
exception because they were not able to install all of the poles and netting due to access concerns
for existing residential and commercial properties . The applicant’s requested modif ication
includes installation of poles with orange flags in the locations noted in yellow on page 2 of
Attachment 3. These poles have been installed.
CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS :
O n February 16, 2016, the Council approved a story pole exception that would provid e a visual
representation of the proposed development to the greatest extent possible. The Council’s
d eliberation did not include a discussion on providing additional representation where it
conflicted with existing uses ; however, the approval requ ired t hat story poles should be installed
wherever feasible , which resulted in the requirement of six additional buildings being
represented towards the center of the site .
Based on the information provided by the applicant in regards to access concerns , s taff
recommends approval of the requested story pole exception modification with the requirement
that the installed poles and netting/flags remain in place and in good condition for 60 days from
the date of the Council’s decision.
ALTERNATIVES :
Altern atively, t he Town Council may:
Deny the requested story pole exception modification ; or
Approve the story pole exception modification with additional requirements ; or
Take other action.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS :
PAGE 3
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: NORTH 40 SPECIFIC PLAN AREA PHASE 1 – STORY POLE EXCEPTION
MODIFICATION
APRIL 5 , 2016
Action on the requested modification does not constitute a “project” as defined by section 15378
of the CEQA Guidelines because it is not an action which has a potential for resulting in either a
direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
Attachment s :
1. App roved Story Pole Exception
2. Story Poles Not Installed
3. Letter from the a pplicant with the story pole exception modification request
Distribution :
Grosvenor Americas, Attn: Don Capobres , 1 California S treet , Suite 2500, San Francisco , CA
94111
Summerhill Homes, Attn: Wendi E. Baker , 3000 Executive P arkway , S uite 450, San Ramon , CA
94583