Item 2 - Staff Report and Attachments 1 - 3, Desk Item and Attachment 4PREPARED 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: 05/27/2020
ITEM NO: 2
DATE: May 21, 2020
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Forward a Recommendation to the Director on Request for Exterior
Alterations to a Non-Contributing Single-Family Residence in the Almond
Grove Historic District on Property Zoned R-1D:LHP Located at 135 Tait
Avenue. APN 510-18-031. Property Owners: Gary and Amanda Butcher.
Applicant: Tara Rasmussen. Project Planner: Sean Mullin.
RECOMMENDATION:
Forward a recommendation to the Director on a request for exterior alterations to a non-
contributing single-family residence in the Almond Grove Historic District on property zoned
R-1D:LHP. APN 510-18-031.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1.Date primary structure was built: 1900 per County Assessor’s Database
2.Town of Los Gatos Preliminary Rating: R, historic but grossly altered
3.Does property have an LHP Overlay? Yes
4.Is structure in a historic district? Almond Grove
5.If yes, is it a contributor? No
6.Findings required? No
7.Considerations required? Yes
BACKGROUND:
Sanborn maps (Attachment 1) and Town records indicate that prior to 1983, the residence was
single story. In 1983, the Town approved a second-story addition, which was accomplished by
lifting the existing single-story residence and constructing a new ground floor addition below it.
The 1990 Bloomfield Survey recognizes these significant alterations in the preliminary rating
and description of alterations of the residence (Attachment 2).
PAGE 2 OF 2
SUBJECT: 135 Tait Avenue
May 21, 2020
N:\DEV\HISTORIC PRESERVATION\HPC Sheets\2020\05-27-20\Item 2 - 135 Tait Avenue\Tait Avenue, 135 - 05-27-20.docx 5/21/2020 5:36 PM
DISCUSSION:
The applicant is requesting approval for construction of exterior alterations to a single -family
residence located in the Almond Grove Historic District. The applicant proposes to remove an
existing door on the north side elevation, remove one window and modify another window on
the south side elevation, and remove two doors on the rear elevation and replace them with a
single four-pane folding door with an awning (Attachment 3). New siding, where required,
would match the existing siding.
CONCLUSION:
The applicant is requesting approval for construction of exterior alterations to a single-family
residence located in the Almond Grove Historic District. Should the Committee find merit in the
request, Building Permits could be approved by the Community Development Director and the
project would not return to the Committee.
A. Considerations – related to the request for approval of exterior modifications to a residence
located in an Historic District.
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.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 1944 Sanborn Map
2. Anne Bloomfield Survey
3. Development plans
ATTACHMENT 1
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank
File address
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ARCHITECTURAL /CULTURAL SU RVEY
LO S GATO S RE S EARC H
-----------------------------
PARCEL MAP INFORMATION
ARC HITECTURA L HISTORY
141 Sl 922·1 063
2229 WEBSTER STREET
SAN FRANCIS C O . C A 94 1 1 5
Parcel # _;;-...,.. I Lot size : ~ 7 f r ont ft . x '5 2, ft. deep
Lot shape: Rectangle~L ___ Rectangle with s mall rear j og ___ Othe r ____________________ __
S E Av e /"' Ot her ;r A -,-7---Location : N W...L side of :------':....._----;---St
:;..q; /
distance to cross s t: c ~0 7 ft. N / S E w f r om ~;"'\
at NE NW SE sw cor ner o f ___________ _
HISTORIC INFORMATION ON PARCEL MAP
Old tract or subdivision name~~~~~~~ J1 Old Block #~~~--Old l o t # __ ~-------
FIELD SURVEY INFORMATION (handwritten in red) 4 ,~
,....-? -(I , D' I I -
Preliminary rating /"' Es timated age ~ ~ '1-s ~ Style I ~ 'a Yl.a-~-# stories 2-
' Alterations o v -t-,e~,-ad tl ~..d --Pt!:' ,..,./...
Other -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COUNTY ASSESSOR--PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS (paste on copy)
OWNERSHIP SHOWN ON MAPS
Source Source Source Location of property, or
Name Date Page Old :tract/block/lot ---
!
1891
Blk Book 1908
Survey 1944
MISCELLANEOUS
Nat1onal Reg1ster listed date~---------------
County Inventory 1979~----~----~~--~~-----
Town of Los Gatos: Designation ____ Recognition __ _
District Name ~-----------------------------
Previous Survey
Gebhard: page # illustration page # ___ _
Butler/Junior League --------------------------
Lot
Size
i
PHOTOS:
EFFe c tive date ·----
Own e r
Nam e
I
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I .
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I
:
Ro ll/frame # :25""/.t; Date
ATTACHMENT 2
t r ee t:
f ur n 1e~:
p tne Ave.
Go.tos. fu .
(yea r of
n u rchase)
I( Pre:=-ent) O\':ner
Informant:
Phone:
Ori g inel: -·--------------------------------
19 __
19 __
19_
Bccupat i on:
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Occupents:
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---------·-·
ATTACHMENT 3
Materials storage & spill cleanup
Non-hazardous materials management
4 Sand, dirt, and similar materials must be stored at least 10 feet from catch
basins, and covered with a tarp during wet weather or when rain is forecast.
4 Use (but don’t overuse) reclaimed water for dust control as needed.
4 Sweep streets and other paved areas daily. Do not wash down streets or work
areas with water!
4 Recycle all asphalt, concrete, and aggregate base material from demolition
activities.
4 Check dumpsters regularly for leaks and to make sure they don’t overflow.
Repair or replace leaking dumpsters promptly.
Hazardous materials management
4 Label all hazardous materials and hazardous wastes (such as pesticides, paints,
thinners, solvents, fuel, oil, and antifreeze) in accordance with city, state, and
federal regulations.
4 Store hazardous materials and wastes in secondary containment and cover
them during wet weather.
4 Follow manufacturer’s application instructions for hazardous materials and be
careful not to use more than necessary. Do not apply chemicals outdoors when
rain is forecast within 24 hours.
4 Be sure to arrange for appropriate disposal of all hazardous wastes.
Spill prevention and control
4 Keep a stockpile of spill cleanup materials (rags, absorbents, etc. ) available at
the construction site at all times.
4 When spills or leaks occur, contain them immediately and be particularly care-
ful to prevent leaks and spills from reaching the gutter, street, or storm drain.
Never wash spilled material into a gutter, street, storm drain, or creek!
4 Report any hazardous materials spills immediately! Dial 911 or your local emer-
gency response number.
Vehicle and equipment
maintenance & cleaning
4 Inspect vehicles and equipment for leaks
frequently. Use drip pans to catch leaks
until repairs are made; repair leaks
promptly.
4 Fuel and maintain vehicles on site only
in a bermed area or over a drip pan that
is big enough to prevent runoff.
4 If you must clean vehicles or equipment
on site, clean with water only in a
bermed area that will not allow
rinsewater to run into gutters, streets,
storm drains, or creeks.
4 Do not clean vehicles or equipment
on-site using soaps, solvents, degreasers,
steam cleaning equipment, etc.
Dewatering
operations
4 Reuse water for dust control, irrigation,
or another on-site purpose to the greatest
extent possible.
4 Be sure to call your city’s storm drain
inspector before discharging water to a
street, gutter, or storm drain. Filtration or diversion through a basin, tank, or
sediment trap may be required.
4 In areas of known contamination, testing is required prior to reuse or discharge
of groundwater. Consult with the city inspector to determine what testing to do
and to interpret results. Contaminated groundwater must be treated or hauled
off-site for proper disposal.
Concrete, grout, and mortar
storage & waste disposal
4 Be sure to store concrete, grout, and mortar under cover and
away from drainage areas. These materials must never reach a
storm drain.
4 Wash out concrete equipment/trucks off-site or designate an on-site
area for washing where water will flow onto dirt or into a temporary
pit in a dirt area. Let the water seep into the soil and dispose of
hardened concrete with trash.
Make sure your crews and subs do the job right!
Storm drain polluters may be liable for fines of up to $10,000 per day!
Runoff from streets and other paved areas is a major source of pollution in San Francisco Bay. Construction
activities can directly affect the health of the Bay unless contractors and crews plan ahead to keep dirt, debris, and
other construction waste away from storm drains and local creeks. Following these guidelines will ensure your
compliance with local ordinance requirements.
4 Divert water from washing
exposed aggregate concrete
to a dirt area where it will
not run into a gutter, street,
or storm drain.
4 If a suitable dirt area is not
available, collect the wash
water and remove it for
appropriate disposal off site.
Earthwork & contaminated soils
4 Keep excavated soil on the site where it is least likely to collect in the street.
Transfer to dump trucks should take place on the site, not in the street.
4 Use hay bales, silt fences, or other control measures to minimize the flow of silt
off the site.
Paving/asphalt work
Saw cutting
4 Always completely cover or barricade storm drain inlets when saw cutting. Use
filter fabric, hay bales, sand bags, or fine gravel dams to keep slurry out of the
storm drain system.
4 Shovel, absorb, or vacuum saw-cut slurry and pick up all waste as soon as you
are finished in one location or at the end of each work day (whichever is
sooner!).
4 If saw cut slurry enters a catch basin, clean it up immediately.
4 Do not pave during wet weather or when
rain is forecast.
4 Always cover storm drain inlets and man-
holes when paving or applying seal coat,
tack coat, slurry seal, or fog seal.
4 Place drip pans or absorbent material un-
der paving equipment when not in use.
4 Protect gutters, ditches, and drainage
courses with hay bales, sand bags, or
earthen berms.
4 Do not sweep or wash down excess sand
from sand sealing into gutters, storm drains, or creeks. Collect sand and return
it to the stockpile, or dispose of it as trash.
4 Do not use water to wash down fresh asphalt concrete pavement.
Painting
4 Never rinse paint brushes or
materials in a gutter or street!
4 Paint out excess water-based
paint before rinsing brushes,
rollers, or containers in a sink.
If you can’t use a sink, direct
wash water to a dirt area and
spade it in.
4 Paint out excess oil-based paint before cleaning brushes in thinner.
4 Filter paint thinners and solvents for reuse whenever possible.
Dispose of oil-based paint sludge and unusable thinner as
hazardous waste.
4 Avoid scheduling earth moving activities
during the rainy season if possible. If
grading activities during wet weather
are allowed in your permit, be sure to
implement all control measures necessary
to prevent erosion.
4 Mature vegetation is the best form of
erosion control. Minimize disturbance to
existing vegetation whenever possible.
4 If you disturb a slope during construction,
prevent erosion by securing the soil with
erosion control fabric, or seed with fast-
growing grasses as soon as possible. Place
hay bales down-slope until soil is secure.
4 If you suspect contamination (from site history, discoloration, odor, texture,
abandoned underground tanks or pipes, or buried debris), call your local fire
department for help in determining what testing should be done.
4 Manage disposal of contaminated soil according to Fire Department instructions.
Bay Area Stormwater Management
Agencies Association (BASMAA)
1-888-BAYWISE
Pollution Prevention —It’s Part of the Plan
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: 05/27/2020
ITEM NO: 2
DESK ITEM
DATE: May 27, 2020
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Forward a Recommendation to the Director on R equest for Exterior
Alterations to a Non-Contributing Single-Family Residence in the Almond
Grove Historic District on Property Zoned R-1D:LHP Located at 135 Tait
Avenue. APN 510-18-031. Property Owner s: Gary and Amanda Butcher.
Applicant: Tara Rasmussen. Project Planner: Sean Mullin.
REMARKS:
Attachment 4 includes a presentation prepared by the applicant providing additional details on
the residence and the proposed project.
ATTACHMENTS:
Previously received with the May 27, 2020 report:
1. 1944 Sanborn Map
2. Anne Bloomfield Survey
3. Development plans
Received with this Desk Item Report:
4. Presentation slides by applicant
Presentation for the
Historic Preservation Committee
May 27th, 2020
135 Tait Avenue
2
County Assessor’s Map135
Tait
Ave
3
135 Tait Avenue is located in the Almond Grove Historic District and
is zoned R1-D. Victorian in architecture with steep pitched roof
profile, 10’ ceilings, large covered front porch, this home exudes charm.
The original house was built around 1896 as a single story with attic,
then massively re-built in 1983 by Gary Schloh. During this
renovation, the original home was elevated so that the existing first
floor was made into the new second story. An entirely new first floor
was built below it.
Property History135
Tait
Ave
4
Our proposed scope of work is constricted to the circa 1983 first floor
portion. The integrity of the existing historical aesthetic will not be
altered. All materials will be untouched or patched to match.
There will be no change to the front, left or right sides of the home.
No change to the second level or attic areas (which are the original parts
of the home). New Bi-Fold Door System to be installed at rear of
property in place of french doors.
Updates will neither adversely affect the exterior architectural
characteristics or other features of the property, nor adversely affect the
character, or the historical, architectural or aesthetic interest or value of
the district.
Proposed Exterior Updates135
Tait
Ave
5
Neighborhood Example
213 Tait Ave.
Windows
Color changed
Grids added
Bi-Folding Door
Added to rear of
home in place of
french
doors/windows
Black color
No grids
Front
Before
Front
After
Rear during
construction
6EXISTING EXTERIORFRONTReplacing
windows with
exact replicas in
size, material,
style and colors
by way of a
custom mill
shop.
No other
changes
135
Tait
Ave
7EXISTING EXTERIORLEFTReplacing existing Anderson window
with conforming exact replica of the
original in size, material, style and colors
by way of a custom mill shop.
No other changes
135
Tait
Ave
8EXISTING EXTERIORLEFTNo Changes
135
Tait
Ave
9EXISTING EXTERIORLEFTDeleted window
Patch to match
existing seamlessly
135
Tait
Ave
10EXISTING EXTERIORRIGHTNo Changes
135
Tait
Ave
11EXISTING EXTERIORRIGHTRemove french
door and transom
window. Patch
siding to match
existing seamlessly.
135
Tait
Ave
12EXISTING EXTERIORREARRemove french doors
and transom
windows
135
Tait
Ave
13MATERIALSNew exterior bi-folding door
Exterior and Interior Finish to be
Black Grey (RAL 7021)NEW135
Tait
Ave
135
Tait
Ave