Developer Spin or Story Poles... who’s telling stories about proposed Mammoth Developments?

This evening the Mammoth Town Council will be discussing instituting a policy of requiring developers to erect Story Poles on the site of a proposed development so the height, mass, density and sets backs of buildings can be evaluated and the impact be sorted out on a more real and accurate scale. Second home owners and residents want Town Council to know what they think of Story Poles so they sent the members of the Mammoth Town Council these letters prior to tonight’s meeting.

Click on Comments and let us know what you think about Story Poles?

October 3, 2006

Sent by Facsimile and U.S. First Class Mail

The Honorable Mayor Kirk A. Stapp
Members of the City Council
City of Mammoth Lakes, California
P.O. Box 1609
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546

Re: Story Pole Policy

Dear Mayor Stapp and City Council Members:

I urge the City to adopt a requirement that story poles be erected to show the outline and heights for any property for which any variation from permitted heights is requested, whether by variance, specific plan, or otherwise. Story poles play an important role in making a determination of the actual impact a project will have on the surrounding properties and public streets.

My attention has been drawn to this for Mammoth Lakes in that I am a part time resident of Mammoth Creek. The Cardinal Investments project under discussion next door has been suggested to be in excess of the thirty-five foot limit. Heights that have been suggested running from forty-three feet to fifty-five feet to sixty-three feet and now discussions of an eight story building. However, height is only a part of the issue inasmuch as this project is proposed to be condensed with all of its density in a small area closest to the surrounding properties. Thus, the combination of mass and height is difficult to picture without the help of story poles.

Also, I recommend that the City employ a policy that requires such a project to include accurate digital photos taken from strategic points on the surrounding properties as well as from the public streets with the project superimposed so that this massing impact of both height and breadth can be visualized.

I have been involved in land use work for 25 years in Southern California. I can tell you that story poles were reluctantly accepted in some cities but now have become the norm in those cities relied upon by planners, developers and the community. This is a logical step for Mammoth to take given the type of developments that seem to be in process or under review.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

William L. Fischbeck


Dear Mammoth Lakes Town Council Members and Mammoth Lakes Planning Commissioners:

I am the Vice President of the Board for the Snowflower Homeowners Association of Mammoth ("Snowflower"), in addition to being the lead participant on behalf of Snowflower in the collective discussions amongst our Association and those of Mammoth Creek and Sunrise relative to the proposed development of the "Mammoth Creek site" by Cardinal Investments ("Cardinal").

It has come to our attention that at your October 4, 2006 Town Council Meeting, an agenda item slated for discussion is the possible suggestion/recommendation that Cardinal place story poles on the Mammoth Creek site delineating the scale and scope of their intended development. We would strongly encourage such a request to be made of Cardinal at this time. Should I be mistaken and the agenda item relative to story poles is generic, then I apologize for the misunderstanding and would therefore strongly encourage that story poles be used on all development sites throughout Mammoth seeking a change in the height allowance; including and starting with the Mammoth Creek site.

Given the various development schemes contemplated by Cardinal, we would promulgate that multiple color coded story poles be used at the Mammoth Creek site and placed there for a period of not less than 120 days.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of the herein contained request.

Tom Cherry


Skip Harvey Mayor Pro Tem & Town Council

I see your name on the Story Pole Policy agenda item. I am writing to ask the Town Council to adopt a story pole policy that requires developers to install story poles on proposed development properties starting with the ADP process running through the public hearing process. It is my opinion the planning staff and planning commission should not take on the review of any proposed developments that do not meet current general plan zoning height limits, setbacks and density requirements. It is an ineffective use of time and town resources. The council should instruct town staff to hand back to Developers any plans submitted that do not meet current general plan zoning height limits, set backs and densities.

If the town staff and planning commission takes on the review of projects that do not fit in the zoning, I believe the council should require developers to put up Story Polls if the proposed development exceeds current general plan height, setback and density zoning. I feel Story Poles should remain up a minimum of 120 days allowing residents, visitors and second home owners the opportunity to evaluate whether or not the proposed height, building mass and setbacks meet the current zoning that states “Only those uses are permitted that are complementary to and can exist in harmony with such residential developments.” (Ord. 93-10 1 (part), 1993).

Story Poles will tell the true story about the scale of proposed development and whether or not it is “complementary to and can exist in harmony with such residential developments.” Developer artistic renderings are more spin than substance and do not adequately show the impact their proposed project will have on town and neighborhoods in town. The Village and 8050 are perfect examples. They looked good on paper but now that they are built, I hear things like “how could they let them build something like that.” Keep Resort Corridor Village type projects in the Village.

As you know I have been a reservation business owner in Mammoth since 1981 and a thread that has been running through conversations I have had with my rental guests the past few years has been “I do not like what has been happening in Mammoth and I do not like coming to Mammoth as much as I once did.” I want residents, second home owners and visitors to our community to see what is being planned and encouraged to comment on the story the poles will tell. I urge the council to implement requiring developers to install story poles so we can more accurately see what is proposed and truly hear what people think about the proposed developments. I am on the front lines of helping our visitors enjoy all Mammoth has to offer and they are commenting on the direction of Mammoth and they do not like where we are headed. I believe I am hearing our Visitors correctly, what the town is doing is beginning to have a negative effect on the quality of our visitor’s experience when they are in Mammoth. There is a problem starting to develop out there we can not ignore please put up story poles and tell the whole story. I ask the council to require developers to erect Story Poles so you too can start hearing the complete story.

Steve Schwind
Mammoth Resort & Recreation Real Estate Since 1981