Ord 1463 - AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE EFFECTING ZONE CHANGE NO. 38 FROM R -1:8, RM:5 -12, RM:5 -20 -RORDINANCE NO. 1463
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AMENDING
THE ZONING ORDINANCE EFFECTING ZONE CHANGE
NO. 38 FROM R -1:8, RM:5 -12, RM:5 -20 -R
AND C -2 TO R -1:8 -LHP, RM:5 -12 -LHP, RM:5 -20 -R -LHP
AND C -2 -LHP (ALMOND GROVE HISTORIC DISTRICT)
THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ORDAINS:
SECTION 1.
The district delineated on the attached map is hereby designated
historically and culturally significant as the Almond Grove Historic
District HD -80 -1.
SECTION 2.
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, Massol to the west, to but not including the lots
facing Saratoga Avenue to the north, and to be 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
subdivision after 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 1622 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 director 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 Tait 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 Glenridge 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 Glenridge 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 developed 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 evidence 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
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at 33 Glenridge Avenue. D. C.'s son, John Crummey,
further improved the pump and expanded the Almond Grove
headquartered business. (In Horatio Algier tradition, he
enterprisingly rode a bicycle up and down the Sacramento
Valley and lined up enough orders to keep the company in
buinness for years). Under 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 informal wood frame cottages and impressive homes,
intermixed with bungalow style cottages built somewhat later
reflect the history and development of the district. The few
ranch and contemporary styles of more recent construction in
the district blend well and provide a continuity of time.
Individual architectural distinction is not the important
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 Robert E. Lee, supported by Sanborn maps; Town
of Los Gatos and Santa Clara County tax records;
and History of Los Gatos by George Bruntz.
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E. Description of particular features subject to preservation
in addition to items covered under section 4.86.120 of the
zoning ordinance are, and standards for review as stipulated
in section 4.86.180 will be required for material changes
and new construction as follows:
1. Roads are concrete and should be repaired to maintain
appearance as of adoption of thisordinance.
2. Date stamps in concrete sidewalks.
3. Front yard fencing and masonry walls: New fencing
should be consistent with those existing in the district,
3 -4 feet high and of open design.
4. Front yard setbacks: Generally, houses are set back a
uniform distance from the curb line within each block.
Setbacks for new construction shall be in accordance with
the prevailing setback on the block. (Reference section
4.10.060 and 4.10.070, note these sections only apply to
front yards, not side, rear or side yards abutting streets).
5. 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 shoul.d maintain - the existing scale through
compatible design and attention to detail.
6. 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.
7. 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.
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8. Landscaping: Landscaping which reflects the property's
history and development should be retained if possible.
9. Building materials: When rehabilitating a structure
it is best to match the original materials in types and
textures as closely as possible.
a. Exterior siding materials
(1) Clapboard and ship lap are the most common
sidings. Wood is preferred siding material
for new construction and additions should be
in keeping with existing sidings.
(2) Patterned wood shingles at the ends of gables
should be replaced 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.
(5) Roofs should provide adequate drainage and
materials should be weather tight.
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, especially in front.
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(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 in color.
(5) Sills, lintels, frames, sashes, mutins 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.
(2) Porches should not be filled with anything
other than glass or screen and these materials
should be installed behind posts, balasters and
decorative trim.
(3) Colors should be selected to be mutually supportive
and beneficial to the district.
(4) Minimizing the number of colors will maximize
the effect.
F. All structures (including accessory buildings) included in the
district are regulated by this ordinance and subject to all of
the provisions of chapter 4.86 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 building permit is required and
which will cause a change in the exterior appearance of the structure,
visible from off the property. This does not include painting and
ordinary maintenance which do not require a permit. All other
changes not included above are non - material changes even when a
building permit is required.
G. Standards for review: See section E.
SECTION 3.
This ordinance takes effect 30 days after the date it is adopted.
Within 15 days after this ordinance is adopted the Town Clerk shall cause
it to be published onced in a newspaper of general circulation published
and circulated in the Town.
The foregoing ordinance was duly and regularly introduced at a
regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos held
the 17th day of March , 1980.
PASSED AND ADOPTED as an ordinance of the Town of Los Gatos,
California, at a regular meeting of the Town Council held the 7th
day of April , 1980, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS Ruth Cannon, Thomas J. Ferrito, Mardi
Gualtieri, Peter W. Siemens and John B. Lochner
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS None
SIGNED:
YOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GA
ATTEST:
CLE0\ OF THE TOWN OF VATOS
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Application No. Nb -tea -+ Change of zoning map
Amending Town Zoning Ordinance
jz-i - -S ) 1z M =5-►2, 18 -L4�P, fZM 5 °I2 LFIt��
Ef Zone Change from r M'.r -�! -Z to M =5-2o LNf', G2 -LN
C1 Prezoning to
Approved by Planning Commission date 2
Approved by Town Council date April -/, :L .,Ord. 3
Town Clerk i'- Mavor _. .��.,
I T0JWFN OArd' LQS GrAMOS I