08-26-20 Minutes - HPC
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6874
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMITTEE REPORT
MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING
AUGUST 26, 2020
The Historic Preservation Committee of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
August 26, 2020, at 4:00 p.m.
This meeting was conducted utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent with
State of California Executive Order N-29-20 dated March 17, 2020, regarding the COVID-19
pandemic. In accordance with Executive Order N-29-20, the public may only view the
meeting on television and/or online and not in the Council Chamber.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 4:03 PM
ROLL CALL
Present: Vice Chair Steve Raspe, Planning Commissioner Mary Badame, Planning Commissioner
Matthew Hudes, Committee Member Nancy Derham
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – July 22, 2020
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Mary Badame to approve the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Matthew Hudes.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. 4-0
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 445 Los Gatos Boulevard
Minor Residential Development Application MR-20-005
Forward a Recommendation to the Director on a Request for Approval for Construction
of a Second-Story Addition on a Pre-1941 Residence on Property Zoned R-1:8.
APN 529-20-006.
PROPERTY OWNER/APPLICANT: Shahbaz Akhtar
PROJECT PLANNER: Sean Mullin
PAGE 2 OF 4 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF AUGUST 26, 2020
Sean Mullin, Associate Planner, presented the request.
Applicant presented the project.
Opened and Closed Public Comment.
Committee members discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Mary Badame to forward a recommendation
of approval of the above request as proposed to the Community
Development Director.
Seconded by Committee Member Nancy Derham.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously, 4-0.
3. 411 San Benito Avenue
Consider a Request to Remove a Pre-1941 Property from the Historic Resources
Inventory for Property Zoned R-1D. APN 410-17-071.
PROPERTY OWNER/APPLICANT: Steven Horeff
PROJECT PLANNER: Sean Mullin
Sean Mullin, Associate Planner, presented the request.
Applicant presented the project.
Opened Public Comment.
Lee Quintana
She is speaking as a community member. There were many small cottages in Los Gatos
and the Town should not discount a home’s historical value due to its small size.
Closed Public Comment.
Committee members discussed the matter.
PAGE 3 OF 4 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF AUGUST 26, 2020
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Matthew Hudes to approve the request to
remove the pre-1941 property from the Historic Resources Inventory for
Property Zoned R-1:8.
Seconded by Committee Member Nancy Derham.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously, 4-0.
OTHER BUSINESS (Up to three minutes may be allotted to each speaker on any of the following
items.)
4. 32 Walnut Avenue
Preliminary Review for Relocation of an Existing Pre-1941 Single-Family Residence and
Construction of a Second-Story Addition Located on Property Zoned R-1:8.
APN 510-41-013.
PROPERTY OWNER: Manish Belsare and Rekha Thakur
APPLICANT: Tom Sloan, Metro Design Group
PROJECT PLANNER: Sean Mullin
Sean Mullin, Associate Planner, presented the request.
Applicant presented the project.
Opened Public Comment
Lee Quintana
She is speaking as a neighbor. She has concerns that the back portion of the project will
be visible from the side, while the rest of architectural design is suitable.
Closed Public Comment
Committee members discussed the matter and provided comments:
• Reduce the height of the second-story addition or push it back to avoid it overwhelming
the original portion of the residence; and
• Incorporate landscape screening to mitigate the visual impact of the proposed addition,
specifically on the south elevation.
PAGE 4 OF 4 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF AUGUST 26, 2020
5. 2040 General Plan Initial Draft Environmental and Sustainability Element
Sally Zarnowitz, Planning Manager presented the staff report.
Opened and Closed Public Comment.
Committee members discussed the matter and provided comments:
Section 7.7 Cultural and Historical Resources
• The preamble and cultural discussion is missing many historical resources. For example,
historic districts and presumptive pre -1941 historic resources should be included.
Historic Resource Surveys
• The 1989 Bloomfield Historic Resource Inventory (HRI) survey should be updated and
should reconsider the 1941 date.
• The Historic District boundaries are inconsistent. An updated HRI survey should include
review of the boundaries.
• An updated HRI survey could include a grass-roots volunteer effort.
Historic Resource Rehabilitation
• Assist property owners in exploring financial incentives for the rehabilitation of historic
resources, including funding for the continued revitalization of the vibrant historic
Downtown.
Community Design
• Consideration for requiring replacement of pre-1941 structures that have been
approved for removal from the HRI to be historically compatible.
6. Report from Planning Manager
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:37 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
August 26, 2020 meeting as approved by the
Historic Preservation Committee.
/s/Jocelyn Fong, Administrative Assistant