Item 3 - Staff Report and Attachments 1 to 3
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: 1/26/2022 ITEM NO: 3
DATE: January 21, 2022
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Requesting Approval for Construction of a Detached Garage Exceeding 450
Square Feet With Reduced Setbacks on a Contributing Property in the
Almond Grove Historic District on Property Zoned R-1D:LHP Located at 100
Tait Avenue. APN 510-18-015. Minor Residential Development Application
MR-21-023. Property Owner/Applicant: Laurie Babula.
Project Planner: Ryan Safty
RECOMMENDATION:
Forward a recommendation of approval to the Director on a request for construction of a
detached garage exceeding 450 square feet with reduced setbacks on a contributing property
in the Almond Grove Historic District on property zoned R-1D:LHP located at 100 Tait Avenue.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1900 per County Assessor’s Database
2. Town of Los Gatos Preliminary Historic Status Code: +; historic and intact or worthy of
special note
3. Does property have an LHP Overlay? Yes
4. Is structure in a historic district? Yes, Almond Grove Historic District
5. If yes, is it a contributor? Yes
6. Findings required? No
7. Considerations required? Yes
BACKGROUND:
The Santa Clara County Assessor’s estimated construction date for the residence is 1900. The
property owner is requesting approval to construct a new 515-square foot detached garage in
the rear yard (Attachment 3). The applicant has provided historic research of the property,
included as Attachment 2, as well as a Project Description Letter (Attachment 1).
PAGE 2 OF 4 SUBJECT: 100 TAIT AVENUE/MR-21-023 DATE: JANUARY 21, 2022
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BACKGROUND (continued):
A Minor Residential Development application, required because the project proposes a
detached accessory structure greater than 450 square feet and with reduced setbacks, was
submitted on October 18, 2021. Should the Committee find merit in the request, the project
would continue through the Minor Residential Development application process and the
project would not return to the Committee.
DISCUSSION:
The subject property includes a two-story triplex structure and a detached garage in the rear
yard. The existing detached garage is 346 square feet, with reduced setbacks of zero feet in the
rear yard and roughly five feet in the side yard. The proposed project would replace the
existing single-car garage with a larger single-car garage in roughly the same location.
The proposed project includes construction of a new 515-square foot detached garage at the
rear of the lot. In addition to the parking area for one car, the garage would also have a storage
area. The proposed garage would be roughly three feet from the side and rear property lines.
There is an existing driveway on the eastern edge of the property, along Bean Avenue, which
will continue to serve as access to the new garage. The proposed detached garage would be
roughly nine feet in height with the garage door oriented to the south, facing the existing
driveway and Bean Avenue. The applicant is proposing horizontal board siding and wood doors
to match the existing residence, as well as a wood carriage style garage door.
The Development Plans (Attachment 3) show a, “future ADU under a separate permit” above
the proposed detached garage. This Minor Residential Planning Application is for only the
detached garage. The future accessory dwelling unit (ADU) would require a separate
ministerial Planning application, not reviewed by the Committee. The review of this application
by the Committee should focus on the design of the detached garage.
CONSIDERATIONS:
A. Considerations – related to the request for approval of detached accessory structure in an
Historic District.
X 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:
PAGE 3 OF 4 SUBJECT: 100 TAIT AVENUE/MR-21-023 DATE: JANUARY 21, 2022
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CONSIDERATIONS (continued):
2. In historic districts, the proposed work will neither adversely affect the exterior
architectural characteristics or other features of the property which is the subject of
the application, nor adversely affect its relationship, in terms of harmony and
appropriateness, with its surroundings, including neighboring structures, nor
adversely affect the character, or the historical, architectural or aesthetic interest or
value of the district.
CONCLUSION:
The applicant is requesting approval for construction of a new detached garage greater than
450 square feet and with reduced setbacks on a contributing property in the Almond Grove
Historic District. Should the Committee find merit in the request, the recommendation of
approval would be forwarded to the Community Development Director and the project would
continue through the Minor Residential Development application review process as required
for projects that include accessory structures greater than 450 square feet and with reduced
setbacks. The project would not return to the Committee.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Project Description Letter
2. Historic Research
3. Development Plans and Property Pictures
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January 4, 2022
Historical Preservation Committee:
In researching the history of 100 Tait Avenue, I was able to find multiple documents
outlining the past property and its evolution through the years.
There are notes from previous searches re: phone records, etc. The 1891 Sanborn Map
did not show my house but the 1895 Sanborn Map shows the house & some type of
shed(s) in back that evolves minimally through the years. It appears the original
garage/shed(s) were built somewhere between 1891 and 1895, but the current garage
may be a more recent version, as the siding does not match the house.
The garage will replace a smaller one-car garage with a larger one-car garage, which
will allow the site tenants to store a vehicle plus bicycles and other bulky items out of
sight. The new garage is in a similar location to the existing, but moved several feet
from the alley, and about 18” closer to the side lot line.
The existing garage already has reduced setbacks (zero setback to the alley, and 4’-9”
to the north property line. There are other examples of reduced setbacks for accessory
structures in the immediate neighborhood:
o - 103 Tait zero side setback
o - 308 Bean zero side setback
o - 110 Tait 6’ +/- side setback, 2’-6” +/- to alley
o - 111 Wilder 2’ +/- side setback, 2’ +/- to alley
o - 114 Tait 3’ +/- side setback,
o - 115 Wilder 6’-4” side setback, 4’-10” to alley
See attached:
Sanborn Map
tax assessment
Anne Bloomfield survey
CDD
Respectfully,
Laurie & Tom Babula
ATTACHMENT 1
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ATTACHMENT 2
SITE PLAN1"=10'-0"PLOTTED ON SURVEY BY ALPHA LAND SURVEYS, INC. DATED 12-15-2017, JOB # 2017 - 096[E] UNIT 2[E] UNIT 1DECKDECKDECKBUILDINGEAVE LINEP R O J E C T D A T AV I C I N I T Y M A PPROJECT SITEA1PROPOSED [N]DETACHED GARAGE& ADU ABOVE3'-
2
"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/DBCHASE - TAIT A.D.U.3AS NOTED8-26-219-30-2112-15-21PROPOSED DETACHED GARAGE
WITH A.D.U. ON NEW 2ND FLOOR
1 0 0 T A I T A V E.
LOS GATOS CALIFORNIA3'-2"3'-
4
"
22'
-
9
"8'-3"2'-
5
1
2"[E] UNIT 3UNDERGROUNDELEC., TEL., TV &WATERPROJECT ADDRESS:100 TAIT AVE., LOS GATOS, CA 95030PROJECT DESCRIPTION:- CONSTRUCT NEW ADU OVER GARAGE- CONSTRUCT NEW GARAGE (UNDERSEPARATE PERMIT)APN: 510-18-015OWNER: 100 TAIT LLC, TOM & LAURIE BABULAZONE DISTRICT: R-1D:LHPTYPE OF CONSTRUCTION: V-BOCCUPANCY GROUP: R-3 / ULOT AREA: 6,755 SQ.FT.MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA = 2269 SQ.FT.MAXIMUM GARAGE AREA = 642 SQ.FT.MAXIMUM ACCESSORY BUILDING AREA (15%OF BUILDING ENVELOPE) = 524 SQ.FT.EXISTING TRIPLEX LIVING AREA1ST FLOOR 1521 SQ.FT.2ND FLOOR 922SQ.FT.TOTAL LIVING AREA 2443 SQ.FT.PROPOSED GARAGE (TO BE BUILTSIMULTANEOUSLY WITH ADU UNDER SEPARATEPERMIT) = 515 SQ.FT.PROPOSED NEW ADU = 515 SQ.FT.TOTAL LOT COVERAGE: 2036 SQ.FT. = 30.1%REMOVE [E]GARAGE7'-
7
"ADJACENTRESIDENCEADJACENTRESIDENCEADJACENTGARAGEWITH ADUON 2NDSTORYATTACHMENT 3
0510A2SOUTH ELEVATION1/4"=1'-0"0510PROPOSED 2ND FLOOR PLAN1/4"=1'-0"FUTURE NEW A.D.U.(UNDER SEPARATE PERMIT)GREAT ROOMVAULTED CEILINGBATH/LAUN.PANTRYBEDROOMUP TO STORAGELOFTBALCONYSHEETSSHEETOFSCALE: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/DBCHASE - TAIT A.D.U.3AS NOTED8-26-219-30-2112-15-21PROPOSED DETACHED GARAGE
WITH A.D.U. ON NEW 2ND FLOOR
1 0 0 T A I T A V E.
LOS GATOS CALIFORNIA 9'-0"4'-1112"11'-612"25'-6"CLODN2'-0"22'-0"12'-0"5'-312"8'-212"5'-6"18'-6"HALL13'-1112"11'-612"25'-6"2'-0"22'-0"12'-0"13'-6"5'-6"18'-6"1-CAR GARAGEUP0510NORTH ELEVATION1/4"=1'-0"0510WEST ELEVATION1/4"=1'-0"0510EAST ELEVATION1/4"=1'-0"05101ST FLOOR PLAN1/4"=1'-0"24'-3" MAX HEIGHT
8'-1"8'-03
4"1212HORIZONTALBOARD SIDING TO MATCHMAIN HOUSE, TYP. COMPOSITION SHINGLE ROOFINGTO MATCH MAIN HOUSEWOOD-FRAME WINDOWS &TRIM TO MATCH MAIN HOUSE WOOD SHINGLE @ GABLES TO MATCHTHE MAIN HOUSEW / DDWREFHATCHES INDICATEFUTURE STAIRS TO ADU(UNDER SEPARATEPERMIT)SHADED PORTIONINDICATES FUTURE ADU(UNDER SEPARATEPERMIT)SHADED PORTIONINDICATES FUTURE ADU(UNDER SEPARATEPERMIT) NEW WOOD GARAGE'CARRAIGE-STYLE' DOOR WITHLITES AS SHOWNNEW WOOD EXTERIOR DOORSWITH LITES AS SHOWN11'-5"21'-5"24'-11"13'-412"15'-11"
A30510MAIN BUILDING WEST (TAIT AVE) ELEVATION1/4"=1'-0"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/DBCHASE - TAIT A.D.U.3AS NOTED8-26-219-30-2112-15-21PROPOSED DETACHED GARAGE
WITH A.D.U. ON NEW 2ND FLOOR
1 0 0 T A I T A V E.
LOS GATOS CALIFORNIA0510MAIN BUILDING 1ST FLOOR PLAN1/4"=1'-0"0510MAIN BUILDING 2ND FLOOR PLAN1/4"=1'-0"LIVING ROOM DINING ROOMKITCHEN BATHENTRYBEDROOM 2CLOSETBATHHALLBEDROOM 1CLOSETCLOSET[E] UNIT 1[E] UNIT 2[E] UNIT 31212HORIZONTALBOARDSIDING COMPOSITION SHINGLE ROOFINGPAINTED WOOD-FRAME WINDOWS WOOD SHINGLE @ GABLESLOFT[E] UNIT 2[E] UNIT 3[E] MAX HEIGHT 23'-3" +/-
A4SHEETSSHEETOFSCALE: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/DBCHASE - TAIT A.D.U.4AS NOTED8-26-219-30-2112-15-21PROPOSED DETACHED GARAGE
WITH A.D.U. ON NEW 2ND FLOOR
1 0 0 T A I T A V E.
LOS GATOS CALIFORNIA EXISTING HOUSE VIEWED FROM THE CORNER OF TAIT AND BEANEXISTING HOUSE VIEWED FROM THE SOUTHEASTEXISTING GARAGE VIEWED FROM BEANEXISTING GARAGE VIEWED FROM THE ALLEY