Staff Report.32 Walnut
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: 12/16/2020
ITEM NO: 4
DATE: December 10, 2020
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Forward a Recommendation to the Director on a Request for Technical
Demolition for Rehabilitation of a Historic Residence (Pre-1941) on Property
Zoned R-1:8 Located at 32 Walnut Avenue. Property Owners: Manish Belsare
and Rekha Thakur. Applicant: Tom Sloan, Metro Design Group. Project
Planner: Sean Mullin
RECOMMENDATION:
Forward a recommendation of approval to the Director on a request for technical demolition
for rehabilitation of a historic residence (pre-1941) on property zoned R-1:8 located at
32 Walnut Avenue.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1900 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? 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
BACKGROUND:
On May 27, 2020, the Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) considered a request to remove
the subject property from the Town’s Historic Resources Inventory (HRI). The Committee
determined that enough detail was present at the front of the residence to determine that the
residence retains historic architectural merit.
On August 26, 2020, the HPC conducted a preliminary review of a proposal for relocation of the
existing single-story structure and construction of a second story addition. The HPC was
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SUBJECT: 432 Los Gatos Boulevard/B20-0708
DATE: October 21, 2020
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BACKGROUND (continued):
generally supportive of the proposal and recommended that the applicant return under formal
application and address the following:
• Reduce the height of the second-story addition or push it back to avoid it overwhelming
the original portion of the residence; and
• Incorporate landscape screening to mitigate the visual impact of the proposed addition,
specifically on the south elevation.
The applicant revised the development plans and chose to return to the HPC on September 17,
2020, for an additional preliminary review of the modified proposal. The HPC was generally
supportive of the revised proposal including the removal of exterior walls necessary for the
proper rehabilitation of the structure. The HPC provided the following comments for the
applicant to consider before returning to the HPC under a Planning application:
• The proposal as revised is more in keeping with the neighborhood. The form and
structure are more balanced.
• The use of the standing seem metal roof should be justified, and alternative metal
roofing products should be researched.
DISCUSSION:
An Architecture and Site application was submitted to the Town on November 6, 2020 for the
proposed project. The Development Plans provided with the Planning application are
consistent with those considered by the HPC on September 17, 2020. The applicant has
addressed the comments provided by the HPC at that meeting by eliminating the metal roof
and specifying a composition roof on the entire residence (Attachment 4). A Color and
Materials Board has been provided with details of all proposed exterior materials (Attachment
2). As was previously proposed, the existing residence would be moved approximately six feet
toward the rear of the property and approximately five feet south (Attachment 4). The front
portion of the residence (library and porch) would remain, including most of the exterior
materials. The proposed two-story addition would be focused behind the front façade and a
new basement would be located under a majority of the residence. The proposed addition
would be consistent with the style and materials of the front façade to create a cohesive
design. A two-car detached garage is proposed at the rear of the residence with forms and
exterior materials reflective of the proposed residence.
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SUBJECT: 432 Los Gatos Boulevard/B20-0708
DATE: October 21, 2020
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CONCLUSION:
Should the Committee find merit in the request, it should make the following considerations
and make a recommendation of approval 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 3).
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Project Description
2. Color and Materials Board
3. Section 3.9, Residential Design Guidelines
4. Development Plans