05-26-2021 Minutes - HPC DRAFT
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6874
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMITTEE REPORT
MEETING DATE: 06/23/2021 ITEM: 1
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING
MAY 26, 2021
The Historic Preservation Committee of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
May 26, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
This meeting was conducted utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent with
State of California Executive Order N-29-20 dated March 17, 2020, regarding the COVID-19
pandemic and was conducted via Zoom. All committee members and staff participated from
remote locations and all voting was conducted via roll call vote. In accordance with Executive
Order N-29-20, the public could only view the meeting online and not in the Council Chamber.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 4:00 PM
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Steve Raspe, Vice Chair Timothy Lundell, Planning Commissioner Kendra Burch,
Committee Member Barry Cheskin.
Absent: Planning Commissioner Jeffrey Suzuki
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – April 28, 2021
MOTION: Motion by Planning Commissioner Kendra Burch to approve the Consent
Calendar. Seconded by Vice Chair Timothy Lundell.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. 4-0
PAGE 2 OF 5 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF MAY 26, 2021
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 592 Vasona Avenue
Consider a Request to Remove a Presumptive Historic Property (Pre-1941) from the
Historic Resources Inventory for Property Zoned R-1:8. APN 406-32-049.
PROPERTY OWNER/APPLICANT: Laura Snyder
PROJECT PLANNER: Sean Mullin
Sean Mullin, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Silke Stearns
- She is the real estate agent speaking on behalf of the owner. They did some research.
The house has characteristics of a home built in the 1940’s. Windows were replaced in
the past. The porch was enclosed by 1951. They found no significance architecturally or
to the Town. There were no noteworthy occupants. The map says 1939 but the 1939
aerial photo shows no structure. The 1956 aerial photo shows some sort of structure.
Committee members asked questions of the applicant.
Closed Public Comment.
Committee members discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Chair Steve Raspe to grant the applicant’s request to remove
property at 592 Vasona Avenue from the Historic Resources Inventory
because the committee has found that the structure does not have
sufficient historic significance or architectural merit. Seconded by
Committee Member Barry Cheskin.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously, 4-0.
OTHER BUSINESS (Up to three minutes may be allotted to each speaker on any of the following
items.)
3. 320 Johnson Avenue
Preliminary Review of a Request for Construction of Exterior Alterations and an Addition
to an Existing Pre-1941 Single-Family Residence on Property Zoned R-1:8.
APN 529-39-070.
PAGE 3 OF 5 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF MAY 26, 2021
PROPERTY OWNER: Steve and Gina Sprich.
APPLICANT: Steven Plyler, De Mattei Construction.
PROJECT PLANNERS: Sean Mullin
Sean Mullin, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Steve Sprich
- He is the owner, speaking on behalf of the project. They have been residents since 2002. In
2006 they moved to 320 Johnson Avenue. They love the Johnson Avenue area. They want to
update the house to accommodate their growing family and visiting grandparents. They
prefer to stay and remodel, instead of moving.
Committee members asked questions of the applicant.
Closed Public Comment.
Committee members discussed the matter.
Committee members provided the following comments:
• Keep the rear door style historically consistent. Ensure the new rear doors are relevant
to the age of the house. Recommended that the new doors on the rear elevation be
French doors rather than sliders.
4. 18 Walnut Avenue
Preliminary Review of a Request for Construction of Exterior Alterations and an Attic
Addition to an Existing Pre-1941 Single-Family Residence on Property Zoned R-1:8. APN
510-41-011.
PROPERTY OWNER: Lauren Shelly and Tom Richards
APPLICANT: Chris Spaulding, Architect
PROJECT PLANNER: Sean Mullin
Commissioner Barry Cheskin recused himself from Item 4, 18 Walnut Avenue, as his residence
is located within 1,000 feet of the subject property.
Sean Mullin, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Applicant presented the project.
PAGE 4 OF 5 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF MAY 26, 2021
Chris Spaulding
- He is the architect, speaking on behalf of the project. They are making an existing attic
habitable by adding dormers. Anything over five feet tall in ceiling height counts as floor
area. The plan is to lose some floor area by pulling in some walls and adding some floor
area with the new dormers. The result is net gain of 44 square feet.
They plan to keep front of house the same in appearance as much as possible. The
dormers will be set further back. The Sanbourn map and photo shows what the house
looked like in 1955. It had a gable roof and two bay windows in front. The front has
been altered quite a bit. In 1962 there was a front porch across the front and a little
gable to the right.
Tom Richards
- He is the owner, speaking on behalf of the project. They have lived in Los Gatos for nine
years. In June 2020 they moved to 18 Walnut Avenue for more room. They have three
growing children and want to create a safe indoor play and guest space.
Committee members asked questions of the applicant.
Closed Public Comment.
Committee members discussed the matter.
Committee members provided the following comments:
• All new exterior materials used should match the existing exterior materials; and
• The new windows in the dormers should be made to look consistent with the existing
windows by including meeting rails to simulate the look of double-hung windows.
5. Report from Planning Manager
The General Plan Update Committee is hosting a virtual Community Workshop be on June 29,
2021.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 4:34 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
May 26, 2021 meeting as approved by the
Historic Preservation Committee.
PAGE 5 OF 5 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF MAY 26, 2021
Sean Mullin, AICP