Ord 1643 - Amending Ordinance No. 1463 which effected zone change no. 38 (Almond Grove Historic District)ORDINANCE NO. 1643
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 14.63
WHICH EFFECTED ZONE CHANGE NO. 38
(ALMOND GROVE HISTORIC DISTRICT)
THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ORDAINS:
SECTION I.
The district delineated on the attached map is hereby designated historically
and culturally significant as the Almond Grove Historic District HD -80 -1.
SECTION II.
The district is designated to be historically, architecturally, or
aesthetically significant for the reasons listed below.:
A. Property: Almond Grove District. Boundaries: Bean to the south, Glen
Ridge Avenue to the west, to but not including the lots facing Saratoga
Avenue to the north, and to but not including the lots facing North Santa
Cruz Avenue to the east (see map)
B. Historic designation no.: HD -80 -1
C. Description of designation: District
D. Description of characteristics which justify the designation:
Historical: The Almond Grove addition was the first and largest subdivi-
s7on�a der the incorporation of the Town of Los Gatos. Of approximately
40 acres, the historic tract was the last land, formerly an almond orchard
as its name suggests, of 162 1/2 acres bought in 1865 by John Mason from
Edward Auzerais, an important landowner in Santa Clara County after whom
Auzerais Street in San Jose and Auzerais Court in Los Gatos are named.
The purchasers and developers of Almond Grove were four very important
figures to Los Gatos history and honored by street names still used in the
area. They were Alphonse Eli Wilder, banker Augustine Nicholson,
capitalist; Magnus Tait, farmer and miner; and John Bean, orchardist.
Many important contributors to the development of the Town lived in the
Almond Grove area. L. E. Hamilton, secretary of the Odd Fellows and di-
rector of the 1889 Los Gatos Cemetary Association, built his own house at
139 Wilder (which is still owned and occupied by his daughter). In
addition, he also did extensive carpentry work for Mrs. Winchester of the
famous Winchester House in San Jose. The house at 115 Wilder was owned by
Clarence Lyndon, nephew of town pioneer John Lyndon. E. N. Davis, head
trustee (mayor) on the board of trustees, 1898 -1902, lived at 131 Tait.
The Magnus Tait home is 231 Tait. 139 T ait was the home
of E. E. Place and birthplace of George Place, owner of Place Mortuary
housed in the Coggeshall Mansion (a Town historic landmark). 328
Bachman is the "Massol" house. Fenilen Massol was Los Gatos mayor,
1894 -97. 354 Bachman was the home of George McMurty, who as a youth
helped haul stones to build Forbes Mill Annex and later became the first
treasurer of incorporated Los Gatos, a post he held for over 40 years.
216 Glen Ridge was the home of W. H. B. Trantham, who in 1885 became the
first owner of the Los Gatos News after its founder temporarily
retired. Trantham owned the News (later the Mail -News) until 1916. The
Mail -News remained in existence until 1953. 200 Glen Ridge was at one
time the home of Raymond J. Fisher, educator, after whom Fisher School
is named.
John Bean started a business right in Almond Grove that evolved into a
local family dynasty's multi- national corporation, Food Machinery
Corporation. Plagued by San Jose scale on his orchard trees, he devel-
oped an improved chemical spray pump, a significant development in an
era of tremendous fruit growing in Santa Clara Valley. Bean gave his
son -in -law, David C. Crummey, a share in the business. Historical evi-
dence indicates that Crummey lived in the house on the corner of Bean
and Santa Cruz Avenues, 212 Bean Avenue, until the business prospered
and he built the elaborate mansion at 33 Glen Ridge Avenue. D. C.'s
son, John Crummey, further improved the pump and expanded the Almond
Grove headquartered business. (In Horatio A1gier tradition, he
enterprisingly rode a bicycle up and down the Sacramento Valley and
lined up enough orders to keep the company in business for years). Un-
der Crummey, the Bean Spray Pump Company became F.M.C. (Still retaining
a division entitled Bean Spray Pump Company). Under John Crummey's
son -in -law, Paul Davies, F.M.C. became an international corporation, and
a member of his family still serves on the board of directors.
Architectural: The predominance of Victorian architecture, including
informaT w' ood frame cottages and impressive homes, intermixed with
bungalow style cottages built somewhat later reflect the history and de-
velopment of the district. The few ranch and contemporary styles of
more recent construction in the district blend well and provide a conti-
nuity of time. Individual architectural distinction is not the impor-
tant factor in a historic district but the neighborhood entity created.
The Almond Grove area is unique in that of the 78 pre -1895 houses built
here, 65 or about 82% still grace the streets. In addition, 23 houses
built between 1895 and 1908, 31 houses built between 1908 and 1916 and
another 31 houses built between 1917 and 1930 still exist. A total of
180 structures now line the streets within the boundaries of the
district, 150 or 84% of those structures were built by 1930. The
streetscapes remain basically unchanged, lending the district a special
old -time feeling that for many symbolize old Los Gatos and represents an
Important part of our Town's heritage.
Sources:
o ert E. Lee, supported by Sanborn maps; Town of Los Gatos and Santa
Clara County tax records; and History of Los Gatos by George Bruntz.
E. Description of particular features subject to preservation in addition
to items covered under section 4.86.120 of the zoning ordinance are as
follows:
1. Roads are concrete and should be repaired to maintain appearance as
of adoption of this ordinance.
2. Date stamps in concrete sidewalks.
F. Standards for review as required by Section 4.86.180 are as follows:
1. Front yard fencing and masonry walls: New fencing shall not exceed
3 feet in height, shall be of open design, and shall be consistent
with whose existing in the district. Covered gateways may exceed
the 3 foot height limit.
2. Front yard setbacks:
Lance from the curb
struction shall be in
block. (Reference
Lions only apply to
Ling streets).
Generally, houses are set back a uniform dis-
line within each block. Setbacks for new con -
accordance with the prevailing setback on the
section 4.10.060 and 4.10.070, note these sec -
front yards, not side, rear or side yards abut-
3. Heights and proportions: Heights and proportions of additions and
alterations should be compatible with those of existing structures,
especially if they will be seen from the street. New construction
should maintain the existing scale through compatible design and at-
tention to detail.
4. Building facades visible from the street of the district: Protected
elements should include exterior trim, materials, textures, colors,
and treatments of doors, windows, porches, stairways and roofs.
5. This item should apply only in cases where the owner desires to take
advantage of the 1976 Tax Reform Act. Interior features: Retaining
original material, architectural features and hardware, original
paint colors, plaster, wallpaper, etc, whenever possible. Repair or
replace with duplicated materials.
6. Building materials: The original materials shall be matched in
types and textures as closely as possible when rehabilitating a
structure. Existing buildings in non - Victorian style should be mod-
ified in accordance with their own styles. However, an owner who
wishes to remodel a house currently in a non - Victorian style into a
Victorian house may do so. All new structures will also be subject
to the following standards:
a. Exterior siding materials
(1) Clapboard and ship lap are the most common sidings. Siding
material shall be wood for new construction. Wall materi-
als on additions should be in keeping with existing siding.
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(2) Patterned wood shingles at the ends of gables should be re-
placed to match existing pattern.
b. Roofs
(1) Wood shingles are the preferred material.
(2) Composition materials are acceptable in dark colors.
(3) Roofs retaining their original shape should be maintained.
Roof additions should replicate the form and pitch of the
original roof. Shed roofs are acceptable at the rear.
(4) Brackets, vergeboards, decorative touches should be
retained, especially on street facades.
c. Windows and doors
(1) The preferred material for windows and doors is wood.
(2) Original doors should be retained if possible. Replacement
doors should not be flat but of a raised pattern, especial-
ly in front.
(3) Plastic materials should not be used in place of glass.
(4) Where aluminum sash and screen is used it should match
frames and sash windows and not be aluminum grey in color.
(5) Sills, lintels, frames, sashes, muntins and glass in
existing windows should be retained if possible.
Replacements should duplicate the originals in design and
materials.
d. Porches
(1) Existing front porches should be retained or replaced with
wooden porches.
(2) Porches should not be enclosed with anything other than
glass or screen and these materials should be installed be-
hind posts, balasters and decorative trim.
e. Colors
Traditional three color schemes are favored over more elaborate
or single color schemes.
G. All structures (including accessory buildings) included in the district
are regulated by this ordinance and subject to all of the provisions of
chapter 4.36 of the zoning ordinance. However, the permit requirements
of section 4.86.120 only apply to work which is considered a material
change. A material change is any exterior alteration for which a
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building permit is required and which will affect tl
face onto an adjacent street. For purposes of this
(except Victory Lane) is not a street. This does
and ordinary maintenance which do not require
changes not included above are non - material changes
permit is required.
ie main facades that
section, an alleyway
not include painting
a permit. All other
even when a building
This ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the
Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos on March 4th 1985 and adopted by
the following vote as an ordinance of the Town of Los Gatos at a regular meeting
of the Town Council on March 18th , 1985.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS Eric D. Carlson, Terrence J. Dail X,
Thomas J. Ferrito, Brent N. Ventura and Mayor Joanne Benjamin
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS None
ABSTAIN:
COUNCIL
MEMBERS
None
ABSENT:
COUNCIL
MEMBERS
None
(ZONING ORDINANCE:ORD A -85 -1)
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ALMOND GROVE HISTORIC DISTRICT BOUNDARIES
As Established By Ordinance 1463 On April 7
I