Item 3 - Staff Report and Attachments 1 - 3PREPARED BY: SEAN MULLIN
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: 10/23/2019 ITEM NO: 3
DATE: OCTOBER 17, 2019 TO: HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE FROM: JOEL PAULSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SUBJECT: PROJECT LOCATION: 10 CHARLES STREET. PROPERTY OWNER: PRADHAN 2019 LIVING TRUST. APPLICANT: FIROZ PRADHAN REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT IN KIND OF CEMENT PLASTER SIDING ON A PRE-1941 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE ON PROPERTY ZONED R-1:D. APN 532-36-022.
RECOMMENDATION:
Review the request and provide a determination to the Community Development Director as to
whether the removal and replacement of the siding is appropriate.
BACKGROUND:
A.Property Details
1.Date original primary structure built: 1920s
2.Town of Los Gatos Historic Status Code: I – Contributor to Town’s historic feeling
and appears intact
3.Does property have an LHP Overlay? No
4.Is structure in a historic district? No
5.If yes, is it a contributor? N/A
6.Findings required? No
7.Considerations required? Yes
B.Background
The subject property is located on the southeast corner of Los Gatos Boulevard and
Charles Street (Attachment 1) and is developed with a one-story, single-family residence
with a detached garage. The property was formerly addressed as 268 Los Gatos
Boulevard and was recently reassigned an address of 10 Charles Street.
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BACKGROUND (continued):
On May 15, 2018, the applicant requested preliminary feedback from the Historic
Preservation Committee (HPC) for exterior alterations and an addition to the main
residence. At this meeting, the HPC discussed the request and had no objections. The
HPC also found the request simple enough that it did not warrant return to the HPC for
additional review and recommended that the request be approved.
A Building Permit application for the project was submitted on July 31, 2019. As the
applicant indicates in their Letter of Justification, the existing exterior materials are in
poor condition and require replacement.
C. Comments
The applicant requests approval to remove the existing wall covering and to replace it
in-kind. The applicant indicates that the existing cement plaster is in poor condition and
the underlying waterproofing has failed (Attachment 2). Additionally, the applicant
indicates that the existing plaster columns and medallions are in need of repair. The
applicant proposes to either repair the columns and medallions or replace them in-kind.
DISCUSSION:
Town Code Section 29.10.020 clarifies that demolition of an historic structure means removal of
more than twenty-five percent of the wall(s) facing a public street or fifty percent of all exterior
walls. The removal and replacement of in kind non-repairable exterior wall covering resulting
in no change to its exterior appearance or historic character is exempt from the above
definition when approved by the deciding body.
The applicant is seeking a determination from the Committee that the removal and
replacement in kind of the siding is appropriate and therefore exempt from the demolition
definition. Should the Committee find merit in the request, building permit revisions could be
approved by the Community Development Director and the project would not return to the
Committee.
A. Findings
Sec. 29.10.020. Demolition (historic structures)
All remaining exterior walls must be contiguous and must retain the existing exterior
wall covering. No new exterior wall covering shall be permitted over the existing
exterior wall covering. The following are exempt from this definition:
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DISCUSSION (Continued):
a. Replacement. The exterior wall covering may be removed if the covering is
not original to the structure.
b. Repair. The removal and replacement of in kind non-repairable exterior wall
covering (siding) resulting in no change to its exterior appearance or historic
character if approved by the deciding body.
B. Required Considerations
Sec. 29.80.290. Standards for review.
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:
(3) For pre-1941 structures, the proposed work will neither adversely affect the exterior
architectural characteristics or other features of the property which is the subject of
the application.
Attachments:
1. Location Map
2. Project Description
3. Photographs
Distribution:
Cc: Firoz Pradhan, 5321 Taft Drive San Jose, CA 95124
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ATTACHMENT 3
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