02-02-05 Minutes - HPC110 TOWN OF LOS GATOS
110 East Main Street, Los Gatos, CA 95032 (408) 354-6872
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SUMMARY MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS FOR FEBRUARY 2, 2005, HELD IN THE
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 110 E MAIN STREET, LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA.
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The meeting was called to order at 5:30 P.M. by Chair Pacheco
ATTENDANCE
Members Present: Kendra Burch (5:40), Bob Cowan, D. Michael Kane Tom O’Donnell and
Len Pacheco
Staff Present:Sandy Baily, Associate Planner
Vu Nguyen, Assistant Planner
ITEM 1:WELCOME NEW REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PLANNING
COMMISSION
Pacheco introduced the new Planning Commission representative.
ITEM 2:419 SAN BENITO AVENUE AKA 18 MONTGOMERY STREET
The Committee considered a request to remove these structures from the Historic Resources
Inventory. Pacheco moved to remove the structures from the Town Historic Resources
Inventory based on the following findings:
1.The buildings are not associated with any events that have made a significant
contribution to the Town.
2.No significant persons are associated with the site.
3.There are no distinctive characteristics of type, period or method of construction or
representation of work of a master.
4.Do es no t yi el d i nf or ma ti on im po rt an t t o t he To wn ’s hi st or y.
O’Donnell seconded, motion passed unanimously. Appeal rights were cited.
ITEM 3:216 ALMENDRA AVENUE
The Committee considered a request to install a dormer window on a residence in the Almond
Grove Historic District. Cowan moved to approve the request with the following conditions:
1.The window and dormer shall be centered over the garage.
2.The final plans shall incorporate the gutter and down spouts.
3.The window shall be wood. No snap in grids or grids inside the window is permitted.
Simulated true divided lites are acceptable (ie: one glass pack with grids applied by
manufacturer to inside, outside and between glass), to read as a true divided lite window.
Vinyl clad windows are not permitted.
4.All window trim, window finish detail, corner boards, soffits, eaves, millwork and any
other detai l shal l mat ch ex isti ng.
Kane seconded, motion passed unanimously. Appeal rights were cited. Staff informed the
applicant that the approval was contingent upon approval of an application for a second story
addition.
Burch arrived.
ITEM 4:99 FOSTER ROAD
The Committee considered a request to demolish a pre-1941 single family residence. Kane
moved to recommend approval of the demolition to the Development Review Committee based
on the following findings to support that the house has no historic significance:
1.The building is not associated with any events that have made a significant contribution
to the Town.
2.The site has been in the family for over 100 years and no significant persons are
associated with the site.
3.There are no distinctive characteristics of type, period or method of construction or
representation of work of a master.
4.Do es no t yi el d i nf or ma ti on im po rt an t t o t he To wn ’s hi st or y.
5.The house has significantly deteriorated and appears to be in a hazardous condition.
Bu rc h s ec on de d, mo ti on pa ss ed un an im ou sl y.
ITEM 5.105 UNIVERSITY AVENUE
The Committee considered a request to construct a first and second story addition which will
result in a technical demolition and new house and approval to construct an accessory structure
with reduced setbacks and that exceeds the allowed lot coverage on a nonconforming lot. The
Committee stated that they could support the request for a demolition. The Committee
expressed the following concerns for the proposed house:
1.Overall mass, and the mass of the gable ends.
2.Window scale and shapes are inconsistent.
3.The front setback should match the rhythm of the other residences on the street.
Pa ch ec o m ov ed to co nt in ue th e m at te r. Co wa n s ec on de d, mo ti on pa ss ed un an im ou sl y.
Pacheco stated for the record that he lives within 500 feet of the next application and he recused
hims elf fro m the m eetin g.
ITEM 6.40 HERNANDEZ AVENUE
The Committee considered a request to convert an existing lower level as habitable space and to
add onto the upper level to a pre-1941 single family residence. Kane moved to find that the
work proposed did not classify as a demolition based on the footprint of the historical portion of
the house, pursuant to Town Code and recommended approval of the request with the following
conditions:
1.Siding material shall be real wood, not a composite, laminated or fabricated wood
product.
2.All windows and doors shall be wood. No snap in grids or grids inside the windows are
permitted. Simulated true divided lites are acceptable (ie: one glass pack with grids
applied by manufacturer to inside, outside and between glass), to read as a true divided
lite window. Vinyl clad windows are not permitted.
3.All window trim, window finish detail, corner boards, soffits, eaves, millwork and any
other detail shall match existing
Co wa n s ec on de d, mo ti on pa ss ed un an im ou sl y.
Pache co retu rned t o meet ing.
ITEM 7.OTHER BUSINESS
a.367 Los Gatos Blvd - The Committee considered a preliminary request for a
residential development at this site. The Committee identified the following issues to
assist the applicant.
•The rhythm of the street is important.
•The proposed corner lot should be more prominent with house style and setback
to bring back the character of grand homes on the Blvd.
•Garages should be at the rear.
•Houses need to be sympathetic with the main historic house and the
neighborhood.
•Landscaping should not block the view of the house to be maintained.
b.Chair and Vice-Chair appointments - Cowan moved to nominate Pacheco as Chair
an d B ur ch as Vi ce -C ha ir . K an e s ec on de d, mo ti on pa ss ed un an im ou sl y.
c.Pre-1941 Design Guidelines - Baily informed the Committee on the status.
d.CLG Workshop - The workshop was briefly discussed.
e.Future workshop - Baily stated that the State is interested in having a workshop in
Los Gatos, and will consider a segment on alternative building materials.
f.Standard conditions - Discussed possible additions to the conditions and formatting at
meeti ng.
ITEM 6:STATUS OF PREVIOUS APPLICATIONS
Baily informed the Committee on the status of previous applications.
ITEM 7:APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes from the meeting of Ja nu ar y 5, 20 05 we re pa ss ed un an im ou sl y.
ITEM 8:ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 P.M. to the next regularly scheduled meeting of March 2,
2005.
Pr ep ar ed by:Ap pr ov ed by:
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Sandy L. Baily, Associate Planner Len Pacheco, Chair
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