Item 2 - Staff Report and Attachments 1 -3
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: 03/27/2019 ITEM NO: 2
DATE: MARCH 21, 2019 TO: HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE FROM: JOEL PAULSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SUBJECT: ARCHITECTURE AND SITE APPLICATION S-19-013. PROJECT LOCATION:
223 MASSOL AVENUE. PROPERTY OWNER: VLADIMIR KANEVSKY. APPLICANT: WILLIAM FISHER. REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR TECHNICAL DEMOLITION OF AN EXISTING NON-CONTRIBUTING SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE ON PROPERTY IN THE ALMOND GROVE HISTORIC DISTRICT ZONED R-1D:LHP. APN 510-16-020.
RECOMMENDATION:
Review the applicant’s request and make a recommendation to the Community Development
Director regarding the findings for technical demolition of a non-contributing single-family
residence on property in the Almond Grove Historic District.
BACKGROUND:
A. Property Details
1. Date primary structure was built: 1908
2. Town of Los Gatos Preliminary Historic Status Code: None
3. Does property have an LHP Overlay? Yes
4. Is structure in a historic district? Yes, Almond Grove
5. If yes, is it a contributor? No
6. Findings required? Yes
7. Considerations required? Yes
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BACKGROUND (continued):
B. Background
The subject property is located on the west side of Massol Avenue (Attachment 1) and is
developed with a two-story, single-family residence (with an attic) and a detached
garage. The gross lot area is 8,730 square feet with an average slope of 15.5 percent.
When adjusted for slope, the net lot area is 6,975 square feet. The immediate
neighborhood has one-, two-, and three-story residences.
On April 25, 2018, the Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) approved a proposal for
exterior alterations and an addition to the main residence (HS-18-018). The decision of
the HPC was appealed by a neighbor to the Planning Commission. At its meeting of June
13, 2018, the Planning Commission denied the appeal, upholding the decision of the
HPC. The decision of the Planning Commission was appealed by a neighbor to the Town
Council, who denied the appeal at its August 7, 2018 meeting, upholding the decision of
the Planning Commission.
Building Permits were issued for the project on December 7, 2018. During construction,
the extent of demolition approved with the Building Permit was exceeded when all the
existing exterior siding and trim was removed. Under the Town’s Demolition Policy, the
work carried out results in a technical demolition of the residence and reclassifies the
residence as new, requiring processing of an Architecture and Site application, which
the applicant submitted on March 6, 2019.
DISCUSSION:
A. Comments
An Architecture and Site application (S-19-003) has been submitted for technical
demolition of an existing non-contributing single-family residence and construction of a
new single-family residence in the Almond Grove Historic District. The applicant
requests approval of a technical demolition of the residence, reflecting the removal of
the siding, trim, and drywall/plaster along the exterior walls of the residence
(Attachment 2). The applicant indicates that the existing siding did not include
underlayment and was compromised from years of neglect. The new siding and trim
material would match the existing in material, profile, and detail. The proposal does not
include full demolition of the residence and the additions and modifications approved
by the Town Council would not be modified under this Architecture and Site application.
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B. Findings
X As required by Town Code Section 29.10.09030(c) Demolition of historic structures, a
demolition permit for a historic structure may only be approved if:
• The structure poses an imminent safety hazard; or
• The structure is determined not to have any special historical, architectural or
aesthetic interest or value.
Any request to demolish an historic structure shall be reviewed by the Historic
Preservation Committee. All applications to demolish an historic structure which has
been identified as a contributor to an existing historic district, a potential historic
district, or is eligible for local designation shall be accompanied by a detailed report
describing all aspects of the structure’s physical condition and shall incorporate
pertinent information from the Town’s Historic Resources Inventory describing the
structure’s historical and architectural characteristics.
C. Findings
X As required under an Architecture and Site application for technical demolition of a
noncontributing single-family residence in the Almond Grove Historic District, the
deciding body shall consider:
• Maintaining the Town's housing stock;
• Preservation of historically or architecturally significant buildings or structures;
• Property owner's desire or capacity to maintain the structure; or
• Economic utility of the building or structure.
D. Considerations
Related to the request for approval of an Architecture and Site application for technical
demolition of a noncontributing single-family residence in the Almond Grove Historic
District.
X 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:
1. 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
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DISCUSSION (continued):
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.
CONCLUSION:
The applicant is seeking a recommendation from the HPC regarding whether the proposal will
adversely affect the exterior architectural characteristics and other features of the property or
affect the single-family residence’s relationship with the surrounding historic district. Should
the HPC find merit in the request, the Architecture and Site application could be approved by
the Development Review Committee or Planning Commission, and the project would not return
to the HPC.
Attachments:
1. Location map
2. Letter of justification and project description, received March 6, 2019
3. Development Plans, received March 6, 2018
Distribution:
cc: William Fisher, 13931 Damon Lane, Saratoga, CA 95070
Vladimir Kanevsky, 20 Sharon Court, Menlo Park, CA 94025
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223 Massol Avenue
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Almond GroveHistoric District
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