Item 5 - 236 Edelen Avenue
PREPARED BY: SEAN MULLIN, AICP
Associate Planner
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6874
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMITTEE REPORT
MEETING DATE: 12/13/2017 ITEM NO: 5
DATE: DECEMBER 8, 2017 TO: HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE FROM: JOEL PAULSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SUBJECT: PROJECT LOCATION: 236 EDELEN AVENUE. PROPERTY OWNERS: FARZAD TAJIK AND SALOMEH ZOHOURI. APPLICANT: JAY PLETT. REQUESTING PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF MINOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ON A NONCONTRIBUTING PRIMARY STRUCTURE IN AN HISTORIC DISTRICT ON PROPERTY ZONED R-1D:LHP. APN 529-05-009.
RECOMMENDATION:
Review information and provide a preliminary review of the proposed development.
BACKGROUND:
A. Property Details
1. Assessor’s estimated construction date: 1912
2. Preliminary Historic Status Code: None
3. Does property have an LHP Overlay? Yes
4. Is structure in a historic district? Yes, University-Edelen
5. If yes, is it a contributor? No
6. Findings required? As required by Town Code
7. Considerations required? Yes
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BACKGROUND (cont’d):
B. Comments
The applicant is requesting preliminary review for a proposal to remodel a
noncontributing structure in the University-Edelen Historic District. The current
Assessor’s estimated construction date is 1912. However, the Historic Inventory Survey
records indicate initial occupancy in 1935. A letter from a neighbor indicates the
original porch area was filled-in by the 1960s.
The remodel proposes relocation and reconstruction of the front gable-end to form the
roof of a new front porch (see Attachment 3). Section 4.11 of the Residential Design
Guidelines addresses remodels of noncontributing structures (see attached). If a formal
Planning application is made, the proposed project would return to the HPC for a
decision.
The supporting documents are attached.
DISCUSSION:
A. Considerations related to the request for preliminary review of Minor Residential
Development on a non-contributing single-family house in an Historic District.
__ 29.80.290 In evaluating applications, the deciding body shall consider the architectural
style, design, arrangement, texture, materials and color, and any other pertinent
factors. Applications shall not be granted unless:
__ In historic districts, the proposed work will neither adversely affect the exterior
architectural characteristics or other features of the property which is the subject of the
application, nor adversely affect its relationship, in terms of harmony and
appropriateness, with its surroundings, including neighboring structures, nor adversely
affect the character, or the historical, architectural or aesthetic interest or value of the
district.
2. Town Policy
__ That the work proposed is compatible with the neighborhood.
PAGE 3 OF 3 SUBJECT: 236 EDELEN AVENUE DECEMBER 8, 2017
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Attachments:
1. Historic Inventory Survey ownership/occupant records (one page)
2. Letter speaking on porch alterations (one page)
3. Proposed Development Plans (one page)
4. 4.11 Noncontributing Structures, Single and Two Family Residential Design Guidelines
(two pages)
Distribution:
Cc: Jay Plett, Architect, 213 Bean Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030
236 t;delen
JJ resent owner: Mrs. Christine Gonzales
Ownership:
Occupants·
E.c.d. 1912 C.A.R.
1963
1970
1970
1925
1035
19 ·12
J 946
1954
1965
1970
1973
Robert Siegal
J~nzar) o: Gonzales
1-lrs. Chri/jti11e Gon zales, graclua te student
vac;u1t
Mrs. l"rancis Hnwkins
Jerry Kerstulovich
l!:rncs t Sanders
Ben H. Titus
Robert Siegal
Nazario Gonzal-es
Christine Gonzales
-
finACHMENT 1
October OS , 2017
To whom it may concern:
I've lived at 238 Edelen Ave since I was child. I was friends with the family that resided at 236 Edelen Ave
when the homes' front fa~ade was different that it is now. To the best of my knowledge and from what I
can recall, the home at 236 had a porch taking up nearly halfof the frontage (from the door to corner
edge of the home).
I've reviewed the sketches and plans for what Dean Tajik would like to accomplish at 236 Edelen Ave
and as a long-time resident of the Edelen district, I'm in full support of his plans. I feel it is in line with
the character of the neighborhood.
Sincerely,
Clifford
t#f.ACliM.ENT 2
so·-o· --t=E----------
PROJEC T DESCRIPTION
PROPOSAL TO CONSTRUCT A NEW FRONT POR CH TO
THE HOME LOCATED AT 236 EDELEN AVE .
HISTOR I C PARTICULARS
THE HOMES OR IGINAL PORCH WAS ENC LOSED AND A
LARGE PORTION OF THE OR IGINAL FRON T FACING
WALL EQUAL TO 33% WAS DEMOLI SHED IN THE 1960'S
PER I NFORMATION PROVIDED BY NEXT DOOR
NEIGHBOR.
PER LIBRARY RESEARCH , PRIOR OCCUPANTS WERE NOT
HISTOR ICALLY NOTABLE .
THE HOME IS NOT LISTED AS A CO NTRIBUTOR TO THE
EDE LEN DISTR ICT.
T 0 W N RES I DENT A I L GU I D E'LI N ES
POR CHES ARE EN COURAGED PER THE TOWN'S
RESIDENTAIL GUIDELINES· THIS PROP OS AL HAS BEEN
DES IGNED WITH CONSU LTATION OF THOSE
GU IDELINE S.
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21 3 Bean Avenu e
Los Ga t os, CA 9 5030
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i ATTACHMENT 3
Town of Los Gatos
When a new project has more square footage than the
surrounding structures, reduce the scale of the structure
with sensitive design treatments. Setbacks, overhangs, bay
windows, changes in roof slopes, and fa cade ornament are
all metho d s for reducing the scale of a structure.
Floor to fl oor heights should match the flo or to floor of
adjacent contributing structures.
The proportion of window and door o p enings in new
constructio n should b e similar to that of the exi sting sur-
rounding architecture.
Porches on new structures should have proportio n s, ma-
terials and roof slopes similar to original porches in the
district. They should also have depths similar to contribut-
ing structures in the dis trict which normally allows for the
placement of furniture on the porch.
4.11 NONCONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES
This section applies only to existing houses located within one
of the Town's designated historic districts
4.11 .1 Remodel to a Contributing Status
•
•
•
Owners of noncontributing structures within the Town's
historic districts are encouraged to remo del them into the
style and design of a contributing stru cture in the district.
Structures most suitable for this ty pe of remodel are
those that would likely have been class ified as contributing
structures ab sent previous remodel work or additions that
were not sympathetic to the original architecture of the
structure.
In some cases, it may also be possible to make changes that
would convert an otherwise non-descript structure into a
contributing structure for the district. In genera~ Victorian,
Craftsman/Bungalow, and Mission Revival/Mediterranean
styles are the contributors to Los Gatos' historic districts.
An applicant must produce photographs, counts, and docu-
mentation of the locatio n of existing structures of that style
in the district o r reference materials indicating consistency
with contributing styles in the di strict.
All exterior elements subject to review should be co n sistent
with the pro posed style.
Remove previous addition s and alternations that are no t
consistent with the architectural style of the structure and
the district.
Carry out exterior changes to the building facade s and addi-
tions u sing the guidelines in Section 4.8, 4. 9 and 4 .10 .
Resi dential Design Guidelines
HISTORIC RESOURCES
4
55
flTrACHMENT 4
HISTORIC RESOURCES
4
56
RESEARCH RESOURCES
The following books, documents and
web sites may be useful in finding out
more about your house and the best
means of making sensitive changes
to it:
• A Field Guide to American Houses
Virginia & Lee McAlester
Alfred A . Knopfs 2000
• Th e Abrams Guide to American House
S!Jles
William Morgan with Photography
by Radek Kurzaj
Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 2004
• Old House Dictionary: An Illustrated
Guide to American Domestic Architec-
ture 1600 to 1940
Steven J. Phillips
John Wiley & Sons, Inc 1994
• Traditional Constr11ction Patterns:
Design & Detail &lies of Thumb
Stephen M Henderson
McGraw-Hill 2004
• Los Gatos Observed: The A rchitect11re
& HistOf)' of Los Gatos, California
Alastair Dallas with Photography
by Peter S. Conrad
infospect press 1999
• Secretary of the Interior's Standards for
the Treatment of Historic Properties
www;cr.nps gov
• Office of His toric Preservation
California Department of Parks
and Recreation
1416 9th Street Room 1442-7
Sacramento, CA 9 5814
(916) 653-6624
www;ohp parks ca gov
Town of Los Gatos
4.11.2 Remodel to a less than Contributing Status
Owners not wishing or unable to remodel to the extent
necessary to bring a structure up to contributing structure
s tatus are never-the-less encouraged to make changes that
are sen sitive and supportive of the integrity of the historic
district.
Additions or alterations to noncontributing structures
should not disrupt the prevailing rhythm of setback s on
the block.
The front of the house should be oriented toward the street
and the front entry clearly identified.
Additions to noncontributing structures should have a
similar mass to the surrounding neighborhood. For ex-
ample, the addition of a second floor on a noncontributing
structure in a largely one story neighborhood would be
strongly di scouraged.
Front elevations should be similar in scale to those seen
traditionally in the dis trict.
Simple gable or hipped roofs with a pitch similar to those
in the district are generally appropriate. Complex or unusual
roof forms are strongly discouraged.
Window and door types, sizes, and proportion s should be
similar to the contributing s tructures in the district. The
number of window types o n a structure should be limited.
Window and door trim should also be similar in material
and size.
Building material s and finishes s hould be similar to those
of contributing structures in the district. Large amounts
of glazing or the u se o f metal materials is di scouraged.
Roofing materials should al so be similar to those used on
n earby contributing structures.
Exercise restraint on the use of decorative d etail s o n non-
contributing structures.
Re sid ential Des ign Guide lines