08-26-15 Minutes - HPCTOWN OF LOS GATOS
110 East Main Street, Los Gatos, CA 95030 (408) 354-6872
SUMMARY MINUTES OF MEETING OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS FOR AUGUST 26, 2015, HELD IN THE
TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 110 E MAIN STREET, LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA.
The meeting was called to order at 4:00P.M. by Chair Len Pacheco.
ATTENDANCE
Members Present: Len Pacheco , Bob Cowan, Kathryn Janoff, Michael Kane, Tom O 'Donnell
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Joel Paulson, Planning Manager; Jennifer Savage, Senior Planner
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
ITEM1
ITEM2
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
K athryn Janoff requested changes to page 2 of the August 19 , 2015 minutes.
L e n Pach eco requested changes to page 2 of the August 19 , 2015 minutes .
Bob Cowa n moved to approve the minutes of July 22 , 2015 and August 19 , 2015
w ith the requested changes. The motion was seconded by Len Pacheco and
approved unanimous ly.
15360 FRANCIS OAKS
Jim and Kerri Dunlay (property owners) were present and requested that the
Committee recommend a change in the process to determine the age of structures.
L en Pacheco vis ited the site and found that the hou se was po st-war ranch s t yle,
probably not built before 1941.
Michael Kan e asked about the 1900 default date.
Tom 0 'Donn ell commented that staff s hould be able to review credible ev idence.
Kathryn Janoff asked the property owners when the process began .
Bob Cowa n moved to remove the property from the Historic Resources Inventory
based on evidence submitted by the property owners that the home was
Historic Preservation Committee
Augu st 26, 2015
Page 2 of4
ITEM 3
ITEM4
constructed after 1941. The motion was seconded b y L en Pa checo and approved
unanimously.
Torn 0 'Donn ell moved to recommend that staff look into and correct the age of
s tructures based on clear and convincing evidence. The motion was seconded by
Michael Kan e and approv ed unanimousl y.
Kathryn Janoff commented that, alternatively, staff co uld brin g the property in
question to the Committee immediately.
The Committee agreed that evidence s howing stru ctures were built in 1941 and
a ft er s hould not come to th e C ommittee for review if they are not in a hi stori c
di strict.
311 W . MAIN STREET
Gary Kohlsaat (architect), Nora Comee (property ow ner), Paul (contractor), and
Lou (neighbor) were present.
Bob Cowa n commented th at the replacement of small segments of si ding with
long segments eliminates uns ightly joint patters and potential water intrus io n .
Therefore, the siding replacement is considered a repair which is justificati o n for
the exception clause containe d in the definition of d emo lition.
Tom 0 'Donnell agrees.
Mi cha e l Kan e a ppreciates the applicant's letter and that they are re ques tin g the
change before making th e change in the field.
Len Pacheco asked if the r eques t is for only the front and commented that h e
agree s with the other comme nt s that the s ubject request is repair.
Katluy n Jan off commented that it is great to retain the integrit y of the structure.
Micha e l Kan e moved to a pprove th e reques t and made the findings and
considerations, and found the request is consistent with Town Po licy in that the
request is a repair which is exempt from the historic demolition definition . The
motion was seconded b y Kathryn Janoff and approved unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
a. 112 Lo s Gatos Boulevard
Historic Preservation Committee
August 26 , 2015
Page 3 of4
Yana Kushn er and John Gilred (buyers) were present. The buyers explained
that they want to restore traditional Spanish mission mullions and grids on all
windows, doors, and sliding doors .
Dave Zicovi ch (applicant) was present and provided existing floor plans.
The Committee discussed the existing condition of the structure and whether
the condition warrants approval for demolition .
Bob Cowan commented that there is not enough information to support
demolition. He commented that the condition report is vague and that the
Building Official sh ould inspect the structure.
Kathryn Janoff asked about the research r egarding the structure's historic
s ign ificance, architectura l value, or persons of interest. She requested
additional information that would a ll ow the Committee to make the findin gs.
Len Pach eco commented that the structure 's architecture was mixed and
included Victorian style . He co mm ented that he was concerned about mold
infe station.
Tom 0 'Donnell asked if the structure was beyond repair, what the Committee
would recommend.
Kathryn Janoff commented that if it is a signifi cant structure, the Committee
would support recon structi on and keep the structure on the Historic Resources
Inventory.
The Committee discussed options with the · applicant and staff. The
Committee considered whether the repair exemption could be used to
maintain the appearan ce of the structure from the rear.
Kathryn Janoff recommended not to remove from the structur e from the
Hi storic Resources Inventory, and that the applicant, the Committee and staff
work together to a llo w the historic structure to be preserved. She asked if the
Committee can waive certain requirements to meet historic preservation goal s.
T he Committee asked staff to research options including but not limited to a
Variance app li cation and Town Code waiver, and to provide the information
to the applicant and the Committee prior to the next Historic Preservation
Committee meeting.
Historic Preservation Committee
August 26, 2015
Page 4 of4
ITEMS
b. Historic Demolition
The Committee discussed the matter including:
• The requirement to maintain structure in good repair is unfair for
historic buildings where there is no requirement for non-historic
structures. What are the legal implications?
• Do they keep or delete the existing Town Code regarding a property
owner's duty to keep in good repair. Committee consensus was to
delete after checking with the attorney.
• Whether demolition by neglect was currently in the Town Code?
• The repair exemption from historic demolition. Does it allow for good
construction practice and does it further historic preservation?
• Consider adding language regarding modern construction practices.
• Direct staff to review and comment on the draft proposed language
changes prepared by Kathryn Jan off.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:32 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for September
23 , 2015, at 4:00p.m.
Prepared by:
;bd:~~
, Senior Planner Chair
N:IDEV IH ISTORIC PRE S ERV A TION\HP Cminutes\20 15\HP Cminutes 8-26-I S.docx