Attachment 5 - Section 3.4, Commercial Design GuidelinesCommercial Design Guidelines
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C-2 DISTRICT
Town of Los Gatos
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION DISTRICTS
The C-2A District contains two designated historic districts es-
tablished by Town ordinance. The standards and guidelines estab-
lished for those districts will continue to apply to structures within
their boundaries. In the event of any inconsistency between the or-
dinances and these design guidelines, the ordinances will control.
The following is provided as a summary of the special guide-
lines for projects within the boundaries of these two districts. Ap-
plicants with properties within the districts should refer to Town
Ordinance 1843 (Los Gatos Historic Commercial District) and Or-
dinance 1920 (University/Edelen Historic District) which include
addresses and designations for structures contained within the dis-
tricts. They are included in this document as Appendices A and B.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to conduct historical re-
search on their properties, and to meet informally with staff prior
to the preparation of detailed drawings for the alteration of exist-
ing structures or the construction of new ones within the historic
districts.
3.4 LOS GATOS HISTORIC COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places,
and contains Los Gatos’ only surviving concentration of reason-
ably intact historic commercial buildings. It includes the Town’s
earliest commercial intersection and half of the 19th century com-
mercial center. A wide variety of architectural styles is represented
in the district, including Victorian, Queen Anne, Richardsonian Ro-
manesque, and Mission Revival through most of the intervening
modes to Art Deco. All are typical commercial versions of the
styles.
Structures within the historic district have been classified as
Significant, Contributing, or Noncontributing.
Significant Structures are those with special historic value.
Changes to designated structures will be carefully reviewed to en-
sure their historic qualities are preserved and enhanced.
Contributing Structures are those that are supportive of the
historic district by virtue of their individual qualities and overall
support for the character of the historic district. They may have
had changes over time that compromised their historic integrity.
Buildings which contribute to the district should not be demol-
ished except under exceptional circumstances. Their historic appear-
ance should be maintained, and remodelings should either maintain
the existing extent of departure from the documented historic ap-
pearance, or shall make the appearance closer to the documented
one. Remodelings shall not increase the extent of departure from
an appearance which can be documented in historic photos (over
50 years old) or similar records.
Los Gatos Historic Commercial District
Hofstra Block: circa 1875 with later additionsQueen Anne Style
Fretwell Building: 1906
Richardsonian Romanesque Style
ATTACHMENT 5
Commercial Design Guidelines
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C-2 DISTRICT
Town of Los Gatos
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Non-Contributing Structures are those that have no intrin-
sic historic value. Major remodeling of these buildings or their re-
placement with new structures should seek to support the historic
district through designs that complement the scale and character of
the district.
3.4.1 Guidelines
a) Setbacks
Since the historic buildings have no setbacks from the
sidewalks on North Santa Cruz Avenue or West Main
Street, no new setbacks on these streets will be per-
mitted, either of whole structures or of parts of build-
ings, except for entrances.
b) Heights and Proportions
Heights and proportions of additions and alterations
should be compatible with those of the existing struc-
tures. New construction should maintain the existing
scale and character through compatible design and at-
tention to detail while being subservient to the original
building.
c) Building Facades
Protected elements include cladding, transoms, para-
pets, splash panels, display and other windows, en-
trance vestibules if any, historic tile work, and other
detailing.
d) Siding
The historic siding should be maintained on all sides
of the historic buildings, and it should be matched in
repair or rehabilitation or for additions. Preferred ma-
terials for siding on new construction are stucco or
brick, but a single material on all elevations of the
buildings. When cleaning is necessary for brick or other
masonry, the gentlest means possible should be used.
Sandblasting will not be permitted because it acceler-
ates deterioration of the building by allowing water to
intrude.
e) Building Materials
The original materials shall be matched as closely as
possible when rehabilitating a structure. Modern ma-
terials such as plastics or aluminum are generally not
allowed.
f) Roofs
Large roofs should be concealed behind parapets or
wall elements with cornices unless a typical element of
the architectural style.
g) Windows and Doors
Existing historic windows and doors should be re-
tained where possible. If not possible, they should be
First National Bank: 1920
Spanish Revival
Rankin Block 1902
Mission Revival Style
Commercial Design Guidelines
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C-2 DISTRICT
Town of Los Gatos
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replicated in kind. The preferred material for doors
and windows (except the large display windows) is
wood. Plastic materials should not be used in place of
glass. For new construction and additions, windows
should be compatible with their surroundings in pro-
portions, size, type, subdivisions, and materials. Tran-
som windows above display windows should be main-
tained and/or restored. They are encouraged in new
construction.
h) Detailing
Historic detailing such as patterned brickwork, cor-
nices, ceramic tile, pentroofs, decorative splash panels,
molded or bas relief ornament, columns and pilasters
should be retained or, if necessary, replicated in kind.
New construction may use detailing to create compat-
ible scale.
i) Color
Brick or stone that is currently unpainted shall not be
painted over. Colors should be appropriate to the style
and period of the building. The Town may require the
use of a color consultant, hired by the Town, to re-
view color scheme proposals.
j) Pavement
Historic tile work or mosaic in entrance vestibules should
be maintained. Sidewalks should meet Town standards.
k) Street Furniture
Existing electroliers and light standards shall be main-
tained. Any additions or changes to street furniture shall
be compatible with the building style and are subject
to Architecture and Site Application approval.
Example of new building designed to
complement existing adjacent historic structure
Historic storeftonts
The above West Main Street buildings are
outside of the Los Gatos Historic Commercial
District, but represent desirable attributes of
historic preservation.
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