Item 5 - 47 Alpine 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: 10/24/2018 ITEM NO: 5
DATE: OCTOBER 17, 2018 TO: HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE FROM: JOEL PAULSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SUBJECT: PROJECT LOCATION: 47 ALPINE AVENUE. PROPERTY OWNER/APPLICANT: TESSA KEATING AND STEPHAN ROTHROCK. REQUESTING PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF A PROPOSAL FOR MODIFICATIONS TO THE ALPINE AVENUE STONE WALLS LANDMARK SITE ON PROPERTY ZONED R-1:20:LHP. APN 529-38-031.
RECOMMENDATION:
Review the proposed project and provide a recommendation on the proposed modifications to
the Alpine Avenue Stone Walls Landmark Site (HD-73-9), located in the front yard of the
47 Alpine Avenue property.
BACKGROUND:
A. Landmark Site Details
1. Date walls were built: 1923
2. Date of landmark site designation: 1974, Ordinance 1146
B. Property Details
1. Date primary structure was built: 1925
2. Town of Los Gatos Preliminary Historic Status Code: +
3. Does property have an LHP Overlay? No
4. Is structure a landmark in a historic district? No
5. If yes, is it a contributor? N/A
6. Findings required? No
7. Considerations required? Yes
PAGE 2 OF 3 SUBJECT: 47 ALPINE AVENUE OCTOBER 17, 2018
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BACKGROUND (continued)
C. Comments
The rock walls adjacent to the sidewalks along Alpine Avenue were designated as a
historically and culturally significant Landmark Site by the Town Council on April 1, 1974
(Attachment 1). The walls were constructed in 1923 by an Italian stone mason and are
an example of attractive, unaltered stonework formerly common to the Town. It is
believed that the stones used for the walls came from the quarry that was used to
create Lake Vasona. The Anne Bloomfield 1989 Survey evaluation forms for the walls
and residence are included as Attachment 2.
The applicant requests recommendations on their plans to modify the driveway
configuration at 47 Alpine Avenue (Attachment 4). The submitted plans would require
removal of a nine-foot section of wall to accommodate a new driveway entrance. New
stone walls would be located adjacent to portions of the new driveway and would be
clad with the old stones from the removed section of wall.
Building permits would be required for the proposed project, including the proposed
driveway improvements and construction of the new walls. Per Town Code Section
29.80.255, construction, alteration, demolition or removal work for which a Town
permit is required is prohibited on a designated landmark site or in a designated historic
district unless approval by the Planning Commission has been granted as provided in
Sections 29.80.260 through 29.80.300 of the Town Code.
DISCUSSION:
A. Considerations
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:
On landmark sites, the proposed work will neither adversely affect the exterior
architectural characteristics or other features of the landmark (and, where specified
in the designating ordinance for a publicly owned landmark, its major interior
architectural features) nor adversely affect the character of historical, architectural
or aesthetic interest or value of the landmark and its site.
PAGE 3 OF 3 SUBJECT: 47 ALPINE AVENUE OCTOBER 17, 2018
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Attachments:
1. Ordinance 1146 (four pages)
2. Bloomfield Survey (four pages)
3. Applicant’s Request (one page)
4. Development Plans (one page)
Distribution:
Cc: Tessa Keating and Stephen Rothrock, 47 Alpine Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Chris Spaulding, Architect, 801 Camelia Street, Suite E, Berkeley, CA 94710
-
ORD I NANCE NO. 1146 ------
AN ORDINANCE DESIGNATING FIVE (5) LANDMARKS AS
HISTORICALLY ANO CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT.
The Town Counci 1 of the Town of Los Gatos does ordain as
f o 11 ows :
SECTION 1.
The following landmarks are hereby designated historically
and culturally significant:
H0-73-9 Alpine Avenue Stone Walls -both sides of Alpine
Avenue between Main Street and Foster Road .
The detailed description of the designated landmarks, the char-
acteristics which justify designation, and a map showing their
location and delineation of the historic site, are part of this
Ordinance .
-l -
Ite m VI-A
SECTION 2.
The property listed Is designated to be of historic, archl-
tectura1, or aesthetic significance for the reasons listed below.
Property: Alpine Avenue Stone Walls -Walls fronting on properties
on both sides of Alpine Avenue between Hain Street and Foster Road,
on properties addressed as 19, 25, 38, ~7. 57, 58, 78, 126, and 13~
Alpine Avenue.
Historic Designation No. HD-73-9
Classification (structure or landmark): Landmarks.
Description of ltem(s) Designated:
adjacent to sidewalk.
Stone retaining walls located
Description of the characteristics which justify the designation:
ALPINE AVENUE STONE WALLS: These walls, built In 1923 by an Italian
stone mason, are an example of attractive, unaltered stonework formerly
common to this area. It Is believed that the s'A:>nes came from the
quarry that was u~ed to create Lake Vasona .
. . •·
Description of particular features that should be preserved In
addition to Items covered under Section 9-3.1 (site area, appurte-
nance, landscape feature, other). None.
-2-
-
SECTION 3.
The To wn Clerk shall attest to the adoption of this Ordinance .
This Ordinance shall be published once in the Los Gatos Ti mes -
Saratoga Observer, a newspaper of general circulation, printed and
publ i shed in the Town of Los Gatos within fifteen (15) days of its
final passage and ' this Ord i nance shall take effect thirty (30)
days following its final passage.
The above and foregoing Ordinance was duly and regularly intro-
duced at a meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los Ga to s
held on the 18th day of
PASSED AND ADOPTED as an Ordinance of the Town of Los Gatos,
California, at a regular meeting of the Town Council held on the
Is t day of April , 1974, by the follo1-Jing vote: ~~~__;..,~~~~
AYES: COUNCILMEN Ruth Cannon
Hark B. OiOuca
Albert B. Smith
John B. Lochner
NOES: COUNCILMEN None
ABSENT : COUNC I U1EN Egon Jensen
SIGNED: MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
ATTEST:
. /·~ _ ..........
CLE~_~)~)F TH; ... 1«)w/~1o;··as GATOS
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AJ?~D ~l ~t---i-J~ lDh\N\1:-:blON-l?A1~ 2113;74
At7P~VC:,D B) TOW~ (OLJf-:tC.IL DAT~ 4 -1-74 --~ 9tep_/t-146 __
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-~ j'A~TECTURAL/CULTURAL SURVEY .._2-l-o .'~ !jJ (A.,\ _ LOS GATOS RESEARCH
F1leaddress }q ~-=-<Z:i-.... ,d ·p -Av e.
PARCEL KAP INFORMATION ;-
A RCHITECTUAAL HISTORY
141 5 1 922 ·1~J
Z2 H WEeSttlt S~t:T
S M.i l'ltAHCISC:O. CA 9411 5
Parcel f : ;._ . -:. '1?' -a ,:... ·· ~ -Lot size: ___ front ft. x ___ ft . deep
Lot •hape: Rectangle_ L_ Rectangle with small rear jog__ Other _________ _
Location : N_ S_ E W_ side of----------St_ Ave_ Other ____ _
distance to cross st:----ft. N_ S_ E_ W_ from _________ _
at NE_ NW_ SE_ SW_ corner of __________ _
HISTORIC INFORMATION ON PARCEL MAP
Old tract or subdivision name ________ Old Block # ____ Old lot # _____ _
FIELD SURVEY INFORMAnON (handwritten in r ·ed)
Preliminary ratin...,g __ _ Estimated age ___ _ Style ___________ I stories.__
Alterations"-----------------------------------------~
Other ----------------------------------------------
OOUNTY ASSESSOR-PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS (paste on copy) EFFecti ve date ----
<MfERSHIP SHM ON MAPS
Source
Name
Source
Date
Source Location of property, or Lot Owner
Na11e Page Old tract/block/lot Size
1891 -----
Blk Book 1908
Survey 1944
HISCELI..ANF.OUS
National Register listed date. ________ _
County Inventory 1979------~-~--
Town of Los Gatos: Designation __ Recognition_
District Name ------------------
Previous Survey
Gebhard: page I illustration page # ___ _ Butler/Junior League ____________ __
PHOTOS: Roll/frame I C.~·?~ Date~
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Los Gatos
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S~~~c ~~ ar:d .:-~:..-::;.. ... :~:ac:.Ctr.e~ ,;r:., H~neE.
FAIRVIEW PLAZA HISTORIC DISTRICT
"Fairview Plau" was the original n1me
given this cul-de-sic termination of
Pennsylv1nia Avenue on F.H . HcCull19h's
1885 survey 11\ip . The neighborhood of
predorr.inately pre-1900 homes ret1ins
its original features with a landscaped
focal i sland and "Turnstile llalk" pedes-
trian path at the east end of Fairview
Avenue.
'· 75 ALPlllE AV E:Hi£--The date "1889 " is
recorded under the ~arble fireplace mantle of
this house . The entry hall is two stories ~iith
;i 180 ' stairc1Se of hand-turned ualnut .
2. Stone wall, l.l?WE A'W Cr~ot--The rock used to
build this rustic, early 20th r.entury wall is
believed to have come from the gravel pit that
has since been converted to Lake Vasona .
3. :1assol-llatk i ns ho use. 328 GA CHt1A U--In 1885
frank f . Watkins, co-owner of Watkins-Skinkle
Drug Store, purch1sed Hissol's
orch1rd 1nd built this house.
pitched roof is reminiscent of
roofs of some e1stern houses .
20-.cre almond
Its steeply
the sn011 shedding
4. Hount1in Springs Pu1111 House, west of BEAN
& Mlssol--This was built about 1893, possibly by
Harry Perrin whose name is inscribed on two of
the "well" tops. It was composed of four brick
cylinder "wells" with three-foot circular open-
ings at the top. A develop"~nt is planned
around the present pumping station .
5. Waterman house, 45 BROAO~AY--This Italianate
style house was built by John 8 . Waterman in the
late 1880s. During renovation though, window
latches were discovered with a patfnt date "1866 ".
6. 33 COLLEGE AVEtlUE--Construction date for this
house r.iay hive been 1871, according to early tu
records, 1111king it one of the oldest remaining
private ho1nes in town . It was a hundry and
boarding house during the lg40s .
7. Los Gatos Presbyterian Church, 101 CHURCH
STREET--Originally built in 1885, this structure
was remodelled for private off i ce use when the
church moved i ts services t o d new build i ng on
Shannon Road in 1958 .
••
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FilP Address 4 ?·· .,, (/../ · 3.
dlruu !Bloom{ulJ
ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
ASSESSMENT ROLL RESEARCH
Tract/Block/Lot -r; -el' lo -/-,/ 4. 2
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•
ARCHITE<. .AL HISTORY
CAtSJ 122·t0H
222• Mnl'P S~T
SAN "'ANCISCO. CA Mt 1 5
A~~~··~nts are filed by last name of property owner, but not necessarily in alphabetical order . Some )ears there is an
iPd~x insi1e the vollllle or in a separate book. The goel of a search is to find the years when the assessed value of
"i~provemencs" (buildings) changed from 0 to over $SOO, or when that figure rose by $500 or oroe. Writ~ down every year
and r.~111e y~u try, including the years when you find nothing. Ditto 11arks are fine.
--Lot Identification or Boundaries----
Tract or Block or Lot I or
Pase M8lle Ag!!, N Bdy _ E Bdy S Bely W Bdy
-AssesSlll@nt for-
lmprove-
Land !!!!!!!. !Other Info. Date
/.,1 . . r I '2..J..J , .J
---I y c , I ----·-/ oit .:·7·)! ·• '-$ 31w.,; $ 74..> 1-------
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,.. t-_-;~ ii t:> """-,, .. :. I • ' ,
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I . •" "' • /tn1tials date
dlnn.£ !BloomfulJ
ARCHITECTURAL/CULTURAL SURVEY
LOS GATOS RESEARCH
File address # "7 Al ,v1 ' :...e... ;
A RCHITECTURAL HISTORY
14151 922·10.S
2229 WEnTElt STME T
SAN '"AHCISCO. CA I' 11 S
PARCEL MAP INFORMATION
Parcel I S'.2..1-~7€ -a ::s I Lot size : ___ front f t . x ___ f t. deep
Lot shape: Rectangl~ L_
Location: N_! S_ ~ W_
Rectangle with sull rear jog__ Other _________ _
side of __ .._A..._· -----.---St_ Ave/ Other ____ _
distance to cross st : C. 9 (!JV ft . N_ S / E_::_ w_ f roia __ e:_·_,6.-_U .... ~_,,,. _____ _
et NE_ NW_ SE_ SW_ corner of __________ _
HISTORIC INFORMATION ON PARCEL HAP
-.,. . ., "".:-
Old tract or subdivis ion nue '/. £ (' .. ,. ; , . Old Block I Old lot I
FIELD SURVEY INFORMATION (handwritten in red)
Preli minary rating .f-Estimated aae/ 1 2 c?i:-Style .filr.~ -<I' J<' ~ .,/I I I storieL-.
Alterations~lr;.:..:v~~~-~,.....a~e~?~,./i~~~_....;;z~z;~'~-'~· ~¥-·~c·'~·--~~--~c~ee-1 _....;~:.,_._~ __ ; _____________ ~
I " I
Other--------------------------------------~
X>lJNTY ASSFSSOR-PROPERTY OIARACTERISTICS (paste on copy) EFFecthe date ·----
OWNERSHIP SHCMf ON KAPS
Source Source Source Location of property, or Lot Owner
!!!!!. Date Page Old ·tractlblocltllot Size Nue
I
I
1891
Blk Book 1908
Survey 1944 I
i
I
I
I
I
HISCELLAHFDUS PHOTOS: Roll/fra me I "':>2 j11 2 Date~~O
National Register listed da te._ _______ _
County Inventory 1979 ___________ _
Town of Los Gatos : Designation __ Recognition_
District Name.__ _____________ _
Prev i ous Survey
Gebhard: page I illustration page f ___ _ Butler/ Junior League ____________ _
47 Alpine Avenue
Los Gatos
Ca 95030
October 5, 2018
To whom it may concern
c.c. Chris Spaulding, Architect.
RE..CEIVE=D
I I
Please accept our application to change our driveway configuration at 47 Alpine Avenue, Los
Gatos, 95030. We have found that the current arrangement makes it very difficult for guests to
find the way to the front door and is especially difficult for more elderly guests and visitors to
come into the house.
We have asked Chris Spaulding to suggest a design that is in keeping with the original style of
the house and preserves the historic wall (attached). We like the new design because it will
allow us to keep the wall (with one small additional cut) and maintains the character of the
home.
Kind regards
Tessa Keating and Stephen Rothrock
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank
LEGEND
.................... ltm ..;,t.fCS [f'] ST~r ·,\All TO 6(" R.n.iovro
PROPOSE D DRIVEWAY it PARKI NG
PlOTTf:J on St...RVf'Y &'f ROBERT J. CP..AIG, JOe # C-1 ~. OAT(D 4'-2,-201". 608 CR>IG l'tiONe ,, (406 ) e~4-37'?1 'j I I I I
I "
i
( ll'1''HT)
11Dch -18 ft.
RECEIVED
OC T 10 2018
rOWN OF L OS GA l OS
PLANN I NG D IVIS IO N
10' -O"
i
DRAWINGS PREPARED DY
CHRIS SPAULDING
c A R C H ITECT c
SOl CAMELL4.. STREET StJlTE E
BERKELEY CALifOR.i.'1A 91710
(SIO) ~27-~997 FA."< (~1 0) ~2i·~999
RE'vlSJONS BY
PREUMJX . ..,,.RY SET
DESIGS REVIEW SET
PU.." CHECK SET
PER..\fITSIT
CONSlllUCTION SET
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DATE: 9-:d.-1.5
SCALE • AS NOTtO
DR.AWN: ..:S,C-eJJ'.[)
JOB• ROTI1ROCK.
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