Councilwoman Pam Patterson’s bid to have developers in San Juan Capistrano erect tall wooden poles known as “story poles” to show the public the magnitude of proposed buildings failed to catch on with the City Council.
Residents have a right to see the height and breadth of a proposed building and its impact on views and on neighborhoods, Patterson told her fellow council members Feb. 6 in her argument to put in place rules similar to nearby Laguna Beach. The council took no action.
Patterson suggested the city should require the story poles for all development, whether it’s new construction or an addition.
Councilman Brian Maryott said the council already has the power to require story poles on an as-needed basis when developers apply for a zoning change or a change to the city’s general plan. City Manager Ben Siegel confirmed the city can require the visuals be put in place.
In Laguna Beach, story poles are erected 28 days prior to a design review hearing, Siegel said.
Mayor Sergio Farias suggested poles could end up staying much longer if there are issues with a particular project. He wondered how story poles would look if left up for an extended period next to a historic site such as Mission San Juan Capistrano.
Councilwoman Kerry Ferguson said an accurate model, done to scale, is more helpful. “It’s a lot more illustrative,” Ferguson said.
Resident Steve Behmerwohld told the council he has no problem with story poles, just with what critics of a project could do with them, such as changing the perspective of a project by the angle of pictures taken of story poles.
Resident Michael Laux said story poles are a great tool used by neighboring cities. He said developers’ sketches of projects often are not to scale, but surveyor-certified story poles are very accurate, able to show view impediment or preservation.
“I think it’s good for all the projects,” he said. “It’s three-dimensional. You can walk up; you can see exactly what the impact is going to be.”