Staff Report. 17631 Bruce Ave
PREPARED BY: RYAN SAFTY
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: 3/24/2021
ITEM NO: 3
DATE: March 18, 2021
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Consider a Request to Remove a Presumptive Historic Resource (Pre-1941)
from the Historic Resources Inventory on Property Zoned R-1:8 Located at
17631 Bruce Avenue. APN 410-11-009. Applicant/Property Owner: Mark and
Lisa Matulich. Project Planner: Ryan Safty.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider a request to remove a presumptive historic resource (pre-1941) from the Historic
Resources Inventory on property zoned R-1:8 located at 17631 Bruce Avenue.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1937 per County Assessor’s Database, with an effective
year-built date of 1970, and an estimated age of 1961 per Architectural Survey
2. Town of Los Gatos Historic Status Code: N/A
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? Yes
7. Considerations required? Yes, if findings for removal cannot be made
DISCUSSION:
The applicant is requesting approval to remove the pre-1941 residence from the Historic
Resources Inventory and has provided a Letter of Justification and property research
(Attachments 1 through 3).
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SUBJECT: 17631 Bruce Avenue
DATE: March 18, 2021
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DISCUSSION (continued):
The property does not appear on Sanborn Maps. Per County records, the residence was
originally built in 1937, but has an “effective year-built” date of 1970, indicating substantial
construction (Attachment 3). Per Architectural Surveys, the estimated age of the residence is
1961 (Attachment 2). Town Records show that the property was annexed in the 1960’s with
Building permit records dating back to 1990. The Building permit records show that the front
bay window was added in 1992, and the rear addition was added in 1998 (Attachment 4). As
outlined in the applicant’s letter (Attachment 1), the hip-roofed front bay and the windows
throughout the house also do not appear to be original.
The primary request is removal from the Historic Resource Inventory. However, if the
Committee cannot make the applicable findings for removal, the applicant requests preliminary
review of exterior alterations and an addition to the pre-1941 residence.
The original building was estimated to be of Minimal Traditional style per the applicant’s letter
(Attachment 1). The applicant is proposing to remove the non-original bay, enlarge the dining
room, and reconfigure the front entry and porch. The hipped roof on the front, assumed to be
a previous addition to the home, would be removed and replaced with a stepped-gabled roof
form. The existing building height would not change. All proposed eave and gable roof
detailing would match the existing original main roof construction. The existing wood
casement and vinyl clad casement windows, also not original to the home, would be replaced
with Marvin aluminum clad casement windows with a bronze frame.
FINDINGS FOR REMOVAL:
The applicant’s Letter of Justification (Attachment 1), as well as the background information
provided in Attachments 2 through 4, outline reasons for the request to remove the structure
from the Historic Resources Inventory, including research and a lack of historic significance or
architectural merit due to previous alterations to the residence. Specifically, the “effective
year-built” date per County records is 1970, and per Architectural Surveys the estimated age of
the residence is 1961. In the 1990’s, front and rear additions were added to the residence.
A. Findings - related to a request for a determination that a pre-1941 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:
• The structure is not associated with events that have made a significant contribution
to the Town;
• No Significant persons are associated with the site;
• There are no distinctive characteristics of type, period or method of construction or
representation of work of a master;
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SUBJECT: 17631 Bruce Avenue
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FINDINGS FOR REMOVAL (continued):
• The structure does not yield information to Town history; or
• The integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the
potential to convey significance.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR EXTERIOR WORK:
Alternatively, if the Committee cannot make the required findings for removal of the residence
from the Historic Resource Inventory, the applicant requests preliminary review of exterior
alterations and an addition to a pre-1941 residence. Required considerations for the review of
exterior alterations to a pre-1941 residence are provided below.
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 5).
CONCLUSION:
Should the Committee find that the structure no longer has historic significance or architectural
merit due to the loss of integrity, the structure would be removed from the Historic Resources
Inventory and any proposed alterations would not return to the Committee.
Alternatively, if findings cannot be made to remove the structure from the Historic Resources
Inventory, the applicant is seeking preliminary feedback from the Committee on the proposal.
Should the Committee find merit in the front addition request, the project could be completed
with a Building Permit, and if confirmed through Planning review to be in substantial
conformance with the Committee’s review and recommendations, would not return to the
Committee.
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SUBJECT: 17631 Bruce Avenue
DATE: March 18, 2021
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ATTACHMENTS:
1. Letter of Justification
2. Historic Research
3. Santa Clara County Assessor’s Office – Property Information
4. Building and Planning Permit Records
5. Section 3.9, Residential Design Guidelines
6. Property Pictures
7. Development Plans