Item 5 - Staff Report and Attachments 1-5
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: 06/24/2020
ITEM NO: 5
DATE: June 16, 2020
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Preliminary Review for Construction of a New Front Porch with Reduced
Setbacks on a Pre-1941 Residence on Property Zoned R-1:D Located at 33 Tait
Avenue. APN 510-44-005. Property Owner/Applicant: Christopher Potter
and Lisa Mammel. Architect: Chris Spaulding, Architect. Project Planner: Sean
Mullin
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider a preliminary review for construction of a new front porch with reduced setbacks on a
pre-1941 residence located on property zoned R-1:D located at 33 Tait Avenue.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1900 per County Assessor’s Database
2. Town of Los Gatos Preliminary Rating: N/A
3. Does property have an LHP Overlay? No
4. Is structure in a historic district? N/A
5. If yes, is it a contributor? N/A
6. Findings required? No
7. Considerations required? Yes
BACKGROUND:
The applicant is requesting preliminary feedback on a proposal to construct a new front porch
with reduced setbacks on a residence located at 33 Tait Avenue. The subject property is
nonconforming by size, having an area of 3,483 square feet where 5,000 square feet is required
in the R-1D zone. The existing two-story residence features a gable-end roof, mix of wood and
vinyl windows, wood shingle siding, and wood trim.
PAGE 2 OF 3
SUBJECT: 33 Tait Avenue
DATE: June 16, 2020
N:\DEV\HISTORIC PRESERVATION\HPC Sheets\2020\06-24-20\Item 5 - 33 Tait Avenue\Report.docx
DISCUSSION:
The applicant proposes to construct a new front porch with a reduced front setback of 11 feet,
where 15 feet is required in the R-1D zone (Attachment 5). Because the property is
nonconforming, the Town Code allows for the modification of any rule of the zone, including
setbacks, pending approval of an Architecture and Site application. The proposal also includes
exterior modifications and replacement of several windows. On the front elevation, the
existing second-story horizontal windows would be replaced with vertical double-hung
windows. Two new doors would replace the existing windows on the first story, opening to the
new porch. The porch would be supported with tapered square columns clad with wood
shingles to match those on the residence. A decorative wood railing would surround the porch.
The upper portion of the gable end on the front elevation would include a decorative feature
and bracket. A second-story window on the right-side elevation would also be replaced with
three double-hung windows.
CONCLUSION:
The applicant is seeking preliminary feedback from the HPC on their proposal. Should the HPC
find merit in the request, the project would require approval of an Architecture and Site
application for reduced setbacks. The project would return to the HPC under an Architecture
and Site application for a recommendation to the Community Development Director.
A. 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:
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.
B. Residential Design Guidelines –Section 4.9 of the Town’s Residential Design Guidelines
offers recommendations for additions to historic resources through reference to Section 3.9
(Attachment 4).
PAGE 3 OF 3
SUBJECT: 33 Tait Avenue
DATE: June 16, 2020
N:\DEV\HISTORIC PRESERVATION\HPC Sheets\2020\06-24-20\Item 5 - 33 Tait Avenue\Report.docx
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Letter of Justification
2. 1990 Bloomfield Survey
3. Photos of the residence
4. Section 3.9, Residential Design Guidelines
5. Development Plans
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Left Blank
ATTACHMENT 1
File a ddre s s 6 3 -,;;;/.;.
PARCEL MAP INFORMATIO N
Pa r cel # b' C)-4q-o<9s-
cllnnE. !B[oom{LE.[J
ARCHI TECTURAL /CULTURAL SU RVEY
LO S GA TO S RESE AR CH
Lot size : f r o nt ft. x ---
14151 922·1 063
222 9 W EBSTER STREET
S AN FRA NCISCO. CA 941 1 5
___ ft . dee p
Lot shape: Rec t a ngl e__ L__ Rec tan gl e wi t h s ma ll rea r jog __ Other ______________ ___
Location: N S E s ide of St Ave Ot h er -----------------------
distance t o cross s t: ____ ft. N ___ S ___ E __ \.J __ f rom ~--------------
a t NE NW SE sw c orner of ______________ __
HI STORIC I NFORMATI ON ON PARC EL MAP
Ol d trac t or su bd i vi sion name Old Bl oc k # Old l ot # ~-----------------------
FIEL D SU RVEY I NFORMATIO N (handwritten in red)
Pr elimina r y r ati n g~--Est im ated age ___ _ Style ______________ # stor i ea__
Altera t i on s. ______________________________________________ __
Oth e r _______________________________________________________ ___
COUNTY ASSESSOR--PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS (paste on copy) Page __ EFFect i ve date ____ _
OWNERSHIP SHOWN ON MAPS
Source
Name
--------
Source
Dat e
.1891+
Blk Book · 1908+
Survey 1941
Source
Page
Location of property , or Lot
Old ·tract /block/lot Size
Owne r
Nam e
MISCELLANEOUS PHOTOS : Roll/frame # ___ _
National Register listed date ______________ _
Count y Inventory 1979 ___________ ~~----------
Town of Los Gatos : Designation ____ Recognition __ _
Distric t Name -------------------------
illustr ation page # ______ __
~~Alterations : Movea __
Raised Porch e ncl
Addition __ Sidin&__--
Window s __ Co ndition __
Designer : a __ b_ d_
Date ---
ATTACHMENT 2
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Left Blank
FROM THE OFFICE OF
CHRIS SPAULDING
ARCHITECT
801 CAMELIA STREET, SUITE E
BERKELEY CA 94710
PHOTO BOARD
33 TAIT AVE
LOS GATOS CALIFORNIA
FRONT OF HOUSE
NEIGHBOR HOUSE TO THE RIGHT (NORTH)
ATTACHMENT 3
FROM THE OFFICE OF
CHRIS SPAULDING
ARCHITECT
801 CAMELIA STREET, SUITE E
BERKELEY CA 94710
PHOTO BOARD
33 TAIT AVE
LOS GATOS CALIFORNIA
NEIGHBOR HOUSE TO THE LEFT (SOUTH)
NEIGHBORS 2 & 3 HOUSES TO THE LEFT (SOUTH)
Residential Design Guidelines 33
Town of Los Gatos
BUILDING DESIGN3
3.8.3 Use traditional detailing
•Treat openings in walls as though they were constructed of
the traditional material for the style. For example, be sure to
provide substantial wall space above arches in stucco and
stone walls. Traditionally, wall space above the arch would
have been necessary to structurally span the opening, and
to make the space too small is inconsistent with the archi-
tectural style.
•Openings in walls faced with stone, real or synthetic, should
have defined lintels above the opening except in Mission or
Spanish Eclectic styles. Lintels may be stone, brick or wood
as suits the style of the house.
•Treat synthetic materials as though they were authentic.
For example, select synthetic stone patterns that place the
individual stones in a horizontal plane as they would have
been in a load bearing masonry wall.
•Select roof materials that are consistent with the traditional
architectural style (e.g., avoid concrete roof tiles on a Crafts-
man Style house.)
3.8.4 Materials changes
•Make materials and color changes at inside corners rather
than outside corners to avoid a pasted on look.
3.9 ADDITIONS/ACCESSORY BUILDINGS/SECONDARY
UNITS
•Site additions in the least conspicuous place. In many cases
this is a rear or side elevation - only rarely is it a rooftop.
•The existing built forms, components and materials should
be reinforced. Heights and proportions of additions and
alterations should be consistent with and continue the
original architectural style and design.
•Additions should be subordinate, and compatible in scale
and proportion to the historically significant portions of
the existing structure.
•When an addition or remodel requires the use of newly
constructed exterior elements, they should be identical in
size, dimension, shape and location as the original, and
Use stone or wood lintels over
openings in stone walls
Additions, accessory buildings and secondary
units should match the form, architectural
style, and details of the original house
ATTACHMENT 4
Residential Design Guidelines34
Town of Los Gatos
BUILDING DESIGN3
should utilize the same materials as the existing protected
exterior elements.
• When an addition necessitates the removal of architectural
materials, such as siding, windows, doors, and decorative
elements, they should be carefully removed and reused in
the addition where possible.
• The introduction of window and door openings not char-
acteristic in proportion, scale, or style with the original
architecture is strongly discouraged (e.g., sliding windows or
doors in a structure characterized by double hung windows
and swinging doors).
• The character of any addition or alteration should be in
keeping with and subordinate to the integrity of the original
structure.
• The amount of foundation exposed on the addition should
match that of the original building.
• Do not add roof top additions where the roof is of historic
significance.
• Second floor additions are discouraged in neighborhoods
with largely one story homes. If horizontal expansion of
the house is not possible, consider incorporating a second
floor addition within the roof form as shown in the example
to the left.
• Second floor additions which are not embedded within the
roof form should be located to the rear of the structure.
• The height and proportion of an addition or a second story
should not dominate the original structure.
• Deck additions should be placed to the rear of the struc-
ture only, and should be subordinate in terms of scale and
detailing.
• New outbuildings, such as garages, should be clearly subor-
dinate to the main structure in massing, and should utilize
forms, materials and details which are similar to the main
structure.
• Garages should generally be located to the rear of the lot
behind the rear wall of the residence. One car wide access
driveways should be utilized.
Original structure
Addition incorporated into the roof
successfully adds space while respecting the
integrity of the existing house and the scale of
the neighborhood
Placing a two story addition to the rear can
minimize its impact on the historic resource
and the scale of the neighborhood
A1STREET PLANTING STRIPSIDEWALK[E] 2-STORYHOUSET A I T A V EV I C I N I T Y M A PCURB & GUTTERSHEETSSHEETOFSCALE:DATE:DRAWN:JOB:PERMIT SETCONSTRUCTION SETPRELIMINARY SETPLAN CHECK SETDESIGN REVIEW SETREVISIONSBYA R C H I T E C T CHRIS SPAULDING(510) 527-5997 FAX (510) 527-5999BERKELEY CALIFORNIA 94710801 CAMELIA STREET SUITE EDRAWINGS PREPARED BYCS/DBMAMMEL3AS NOTED6-2-20LOS GATOS CALIFORNIA
3 3 T A I T A V E
MAMMEL & POTTER RESIDENCE
PROPOSED NEW PORCH & WINDOW REPLACEMENTSITE PLAN1/8"=1'-0"THIS IS NOT A SURVEY. SURVEYOR TO VERIFY ALL THE BUILDINGSETBACKS BEFORE THE START OF CONSTRUCTION WORK[N] COVERED PORCH41.75'89.38'36.5'90.0''℄PROJECT ADDRESS:33 TAIT AVE, LOS GATOS, CA 95030PROJECT DESCRIPTION:- ADD [N] FRONT PORCH TO EXISTING 2-STORYHOUSE.- REPLACE (3) [E] WINDOWS W/ [N]- NO [N] LIVING AREA WILL BE ADDED- NO TREE OVER 4" DIAMETER NEAR PROJECTAPN: 532-36-022ZONING: R-1-DCONSTRUCTION TYPE: V-BOCCUPANCY GROUP: R-3LOT SIZE: 3,483 ± SQ. FT.BUILDING AREA1ST FLOOR 1,3732ND FLOOR 865TOTAL2,238[N] COVERED PORCH 108BUILDING COVERAGEBUILDINGS 1,373COVERED PORCH 108TOTAL1,481 ≈ 42.5 %P R O J E C T D A T A7'-0" ±
24'-0" ±10'-0" ±4'-6" +/-11'-0" +/-5'-0"5'-0"15'-0"REQUIRED SETBACKS[E] APRON[E] BRICKDRIVEWAYREMOVE [E] LOWBRICK WALLA SHADOW STUDY AND STREETSCAPEARE NOT PROVIDED, AS THERE ARE NOPROPOSED CHANGES TO THE EXISTINGBUILDING PROFILEATTACHMENT 5
SHEETSSHEETOFSCALE:DATE:DRAWN:JOB:PERMIT SETCONSTRUCTION SETPRELIMINARY SETPLAN CHECK SETDESIGN REVIEW SETREVISIONSBYA R C H I T E C T CHRIS SPAULDING(510) 527-5997 FAX (510) 527-5999BERKELEY CALIFORNIA 94710801 CAMELIA STREET SUITE EDRAWINGS PREPARED BYCS/DBMAMMEL3AS NOTED6-2-20LOS GATOS CALIFORNIA
3 3 T A I T A V E
MAMMEL & POTTER RESIDENCE
PROPOSED NEW PORCH & WINDOW REPLACEMENT
A2051015PROPOSED 1ST FLOOR PLAN 1/4"=1'-0"INDICATES EXISTING WALL TO BE REMOVEDINDICATES EXISTING WALL TO REMAININDICATES NEW CONSTRUCTIONL E G E N D051015PROPOSED 2ND FLOOR PLAN 1/4"=1'-0"EXISTING 1ST FLOOR PLAN1/8"=1'-0"151050EXISTING 1ST FLOOR PLAN1/8"=1'-0"151050MASTERBEDROOMBEDROOM2BEDROOM3BEDROOM4CLOCLOLIVING ROOMKITCHENLAUNDRYFAMILYROOM[N] 50 68 FRENCH DRSBATH 4BATH 3MASTERBATHBATH 2CLOCLOCLODINING ROOMENTRY[E] BEDROOM 4[E] BEDROOM 3[E]CLO[E] CLO[E] MASTERBEDROOM[E] BEDROOM 2[E] FAMILY /TV ROOM[E] BATH 3[E] CLO[E] CLO[E] BATH 4[E]LAUNDRY[E] DINING ROOM[E] LIVING ROOM[E] KITCHEN[E] ENTRY[N] COVERED PORCH[E] BATH2[E] MASTERBATHUPDNDNUP[E] DECKDECK5'-8"19'-1"[N] 50 68 FRENCH DRS[N] 30 50 DH[N] 30 50 DH[N] 3 - 2
0 36 DH 24'-234" +/-36'-21
4" +/-31'-434" +/-15'-11" +/-35'-8" +/-2'-512" +/-4'-412" +/-
A3SHEETSSHEETOFSCALE:DATE:DRAWN:JOB:PERMIT SETCONSTRUCTION SETPRELIMINARY SETPLAN CHECK SETDESIGN REVIEW SETREVISIONSBYA R C H I T E C T CHRIS SPAULDING(510) 527-5997 FAX (510) 527-5999BERKELEY CALIFORNIA 94710801 CAMELIA STREET SUITE EDRAWINGS PREPARED BYCS/DBMAMMEL3AS NOTED6-2-20LOS GATOS CALIFORNIA
3 3 T A I T A V E
MAMMEL & POTTER RESIDENCE
PROPOSED NEW PORCH & WINDOW REPLACEMENT
7'-11" 1ST FLR PLATE 5'-11" 2ND FLR PLATE
23'-3" ± [E] MAX. HEIGHT
FRONT ELEVATION 1/4"=1'-0"RIGHT SIDE ELEVATION 1/4"=1'-0"051015051015LEFT SIDE ELEVATION 1/4"=1'-0"051015[E] COMP.SHINGLEROOFINGREPLACE [E]SHINGLE SIDING[E] WINDOWS TO BE REMOVED[N] CLADWOOD-FRAMEWINDOWS[N] DECORATIVEGABLE END[N] BRACKET[E] CHIMNEYSHADE INDICATES [N]PORCH ADDITION[N] WINDOWSFRONT ELEVATION DEMO DIAGRAM 1/8"=1'-0"[E] WINDOWS,TYPICALTOTAL [E] WALL AREA OFFRONT-FACING WALLS = 416SQ.FT.SHADED AREA INDICATES [E]WALL AREA TO BE REMOVEDOR COVERED = 89 SQ.FT.TOTAL FRONT FACADE CHANGES = 89 / 416 = 21.4%COMP SHINGLESTO MATCH [E][N] SMOOTH WOOD COLUMNSSHINGLE COLUMN BASESTO MATCH HOUSE[N] DECORATIVEWOOD RAILINGS