Item 4 - Staff Report and Attachment 1 - 7
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: 02/26/2020 ITEM NO: 4
DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2020 TO: HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE FROM: JOEL PAULSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SUBJECT: PROJECT LOCATION: 253 W. MAIN STREET. PROPERTY OWNER: WASSERMAN FAMILY TRUST. APPLICANT: BESS WIERSEMA, STUDIO THREE DESIGN. REQUESTING A DETERMINATION REGARDING THE CONTRIBUTING STATUS OF AN EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE LOCATED IN THE BROADWAY HISTORIC DISTRICT ON PROPERTY ZONED R-1D:LHP. APN 510-45-006.
RECOMMENDATION:
Review the information provided and make a determination regarding the historical or
architectural significance of the structure.
BACKGROUND:
A. Property Details
1. Date primary structure was built: 1890 per County Assessor’s Database
2. Town of Los Gatos Historic Status Code: +, historic and intact, worthy of special note
3. Does property have an LHP Overlay? Yes
4. Is structure in a historic district? Yes, Broadway Historic District
5. If yes, is it a contributor? Yes
6. Findings required? Yes
7. Considerations required? Yes
B. Comments
The applicant is requesting a determination of the historic or architectural significance of
the single-family residence located in the Broadway Historic District related to a proposal
for demolition of the single-family residence and construction of a new single-family
residence. The applicant has provided a Letter of Justification, pictures, a structural
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BACKGROUND (continued):
observation report, neighborhood analysis, and development plans in support of their
request (Attachments 1 through 4). Additionally, the development plans include a site
plan, existing elevations and floor plan, and a conceptual front elevation (Attachment 7).
The 1990 Bloomfield Survey is included as Attachment 5 and provides a preliminary rating
for the residence of “+” meaning: historic and intact, worthy of special note. The Sanborn
Fire Insurance Maps indicate that a residence was constructed on the site by 1888
(Attachment 6).
Structures within historic districts are individually classified as to their relative contribution
to the historic character and quality of the district. Contributing structures have been
determined to be historically, architecturally, or culturally significant. Noncontributing
structures are those which are not historical in terms of their design or have been so
modified over time as to no longer meet the criteria for contributing status.
The Residential Design Guidelines state that the demolition of any contributing structure in
historic districts is forbidden absent a cataclysmic event or upon determination by the
Deciding Body that demolition is necessary for the proper restoration of the structure.
Additions, alterations, and removal of non-historic additions may be approved as part of the
reconstruction process, provided the contributing historic elements of the structure are
maintained, and the changes and/or additions could have been approved if the structure
had not been damaged.
Should the Committee find that the structure no longer meets the criteria for contributing
status, the structure would be removed from the list of contributors to the Broadway
Historic District. The property would continue to be located within the historic district, and
any proposed work would return to the Committee for review under a formal Planning
application.
DISCUSSION:
A. Findings - related to a request for a determination that a primary structure has no historic
significance or architectural merit.
In evaluating a request for a determination of historic significance or architectural merit,
the Historic Preservation Committee shall consider the following:
1. The structure is not associated with events that have made a significant contribution
to the Town;
2. No Significant persons are associated with the site;
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DISCUSSION (continued):
3. There are no distinctive characteristics of type, period or method of construction or
representation of work of a master;
4. The structure does not yield information to Town history; or
5. The integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the
potential to convey significance.
B. Findings
___ 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:
6. The structure poses an imminent safety hazard; or
7. 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. Applications to demolish a non-contributing historic structure shall be
accompanied by a detailed report describing all aspects of the structure's physical condition
prepared by an architect, licensed design professional, or registered civil engineer at the
applicant's expense.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Letter of Justification
2. Picture of front elevation of residence
3. Structural Condition Report
4. Neighborhood Analysis
5. 1990 Bloomfield Survey
6. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps 1888, 1891, 1895, 1904, 1908, and 1928
7. Development Plans
DISTRIBUTION:
Cc: Bess Wiersema, Studio Three Design, 638 University Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95032
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