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12-17-15 Minutes - HPC SpecialTOWN OF LOS GATOS 110 East Main Street, Los Gatos, CA 95030 ( 408) 354-6872 SUMMARY MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS FOR DECEMBER 17, 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, Interim Community Development Director Jetmifer Savage, Senior Planner Mami Moseley, Associate Planner VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS None. ITEM1 ITEM2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Bob Cowan requested changes to page 2 ofthe November 19 , 2015 minutes. Michael Kane moved to approve the minutes ofNovember 19, 2015. The motion was seconded by Tom 0 'Donnell and approved 5-0 with changes . 94 HERNANDEZ A VENUE Jaime P. Arafiles (applicant), Helen Cadiente (property owner), and Willie Cadiente (property owner) were present and requested approval to remove the structure from the Historic Resources Inventory on property zoned R-1 :8. Jennifer Savage noted that there was no official record that the building was built pre-1941. Kathryn Janoff stated the applicant would need to provide certain evidence to make the required findings to remove the property from the list. Tom 0 'Donnell indicated more research would need to done to find the findings that would take the property off the list. Bob Cowen recommended the applicant meet with staff to get a better understanding of the Town 's guidelines. Historic Preservation Committee December 17 , 2015 Page 2 of4 ITEM3 ITEM4 ITEMS Bob Cowen moved to continue the item to a date uncertain. The motion was seconded by Kathryn Janoff and approved 4-0-1 with Len Pacheco recused. 360 BELLA VISTA A VENUE Michael Black (applicant) was present and discussed the request to demolish an existing single-family residence and second unit, subdivide one lot into two lots, and construct two new single-family residences on two properties zoned R-1 :8. Kathryn Janoff stated the applicant would need to provide certain evidence to make the required findings to demolish the property. Len Pacheco moved to continue to a date uncertain. The motion was seconded by Tom 0 'Donnell and approved 5-0 . 213 T AIT A VENUE Bess Wiersema (architect) was present and discussed the requested approval for an addition greater than 100 square feet to an existing second story of a contributing single-family residence in the Almond Grove Historic District on property zoned R-lD:LHP. Len Pacheco stated since the property was over the square footage requirement , the committee can only make a recommendation. Kathryn Janoff expressed concerns that the design would lose the original structure of the property and could not support it. She suggested the design be more consistent with the HPC guidelines. Bess Wiersema presented an alternative plan that would be more consistent with the original house structure. Len Pacheco moved to continue to a date uncertain. The motion was seconded by Kathryn Janoff and approved 4-0-1 with Bob Cowan recused. OTHER BUSINESS a. 307 West Main Street Jay Flett (applicant) and Dane Howard (owner) were present and requested feedback for the approval for a modifications to a single-family residence on property zoned R-lD:LHP. It was noted that the roof plan that was presented was not correct. Historic Preservation Committee December 17,2015 Page 3 of4 Len Pacheco asked if the plans included replacing the windows. Jay Flett said that they would match the existing windows. Michael Kane commented that the design fits with what is being done to the neighborhood. Kathryn Janoff said that architecturally the design was okay but suggested to work on the design. The item would have to come back to HPC. b. Policy Recommendations The committee is interested in adding more restrictions for demolition and replacement structures. Kathryn Janoff commented that one of the goals of HPC is to preserve the image of the property. Tom 0 'Donnell qu estioned if it was the right of the committee to judge the designs presented. Kathryn Janoff was interested m seemg the post design for replacement structures. Michael Kane encouraged more restoration for some of the historic properties. Jay Plett asked if requirements would be different for contributing properties. Kathryn Janoff re spo nded that it would be all pre-1941 houses not just historic districts. c . Section 4, Historic Resources, Residential Design Guidelines Kathryn Janoff presented a letter (Exhibit A) with a concept for the committee's discussion. The committee discussed the concept including: • Cost and monetary impacts • Preserving the original structure • Agenda items for new HPC members to review guidelines d. Election of Chair and Vice Chair Len Pacheco moved to elect Bob Cowen as Chair and Kathryn Janoff as Vice Chair. The motion was seconded by Tom 0 'Donn ell and approved 5-0. Historic Preservation Committee December 17, 2015 Page 4 of4 ITEM6 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:11 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for January 27, 2016 at 4:00p.m. Prepared by: Sylvie Roussel, Administrative Assistant HwiJ@fr OJ Approved by: /j,_J;(/ A6el S . Paulson, AICP nterim Community Development Director Len Pacheco Chai r N :\O EV\HISTORIC PRESERVATION\HPCminutes\20 1 5\HPC minutes 12-17-I 5.docx Hi , Len: R€0-e \ v eo\ a ·t ·-1 he-·\1 PC Mee"tll:j on \ l De G 2.o \ 5 . I reviewed the Design Guidelines and the Town code that guides HPC work. None of these establishes that the HPC shall weigh economic considerations, such as the cost to repair versus demolish. One could infer the Planning Commission does have that purview: Sec. 29.80.300. Showing of hardship in cases of proposed alterations, demolitions or construction. If the applicant presents facts clearly demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Planning Commission that failure to approve the application will work immediate and substantial hardship because of conditions peculiar to the particular structure or other feature involved, the Planning Commission may approve the application even though it does not meet the standards set forth in either the enabling or designating ordinance. So I am still of a mind that the HPC goes off-track when we are first presented with the structural report recommending demo, etc. as an economic consideration. Regarding design changes, the guideline is clear WRT retaining the features of the original house . Very clear. Recognizes there may be a mix of architectural styles, so the default is to let the features of the house as originally built drive the design decisions. The windows on the Glenridge House didn't originally have muntins, and still should not. I think the HPC failed on that one in two ways: by letting the "economic hardship" of replacing the already installed windows influence our decision AND in not being strict in retaining the original design. As you have reminded us, as the guidelines prescribe, HPC should retain design consistency in repair, remodel situations. When additions are considered, we should take the same approach. To me, this means if there is a mix of architectural styles, we don't add more styles (muntined windows) to it, but determine the most representative style that exists and work strictly within that design . Looking forward to more discussion at Thursday's meeting . Kathy