Item 5 - Staff Report and Attachments 1 to 4
PREPARED BY: Jocelyn Shoopman
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: 8/23/2023 ITEM NO: 5
DATE: August 18, 2023
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Consider a Request to Remove a Pre-1941 Property from the Historic
Resources Inventory for Property Zoned R-1:8. Located at 17035 Pine
Avenue. APN 529-20-010. Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Section 15061(b)(3).
Request for Review PHST-23-005. Property Owner/Applicant: Garrett and
Alive Brown. Project Planner: Jocelyn Shoopman.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider a request to remove a pre-1941 property from the Historic Resources Inventory for
property zoned R-1:8 located at 17035 Pine Avenue.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1925 per County Assessor’s Database
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? No
DISCUSSION:
The applicant is requesting approval to remove the presumptive pre-1941 residence from the
Historic Resources Inventory. The Santa Clara County Assessor’s Database lists a construction
date of 1925. The property is not within a historic district or LHP overlay and is not included in
the 1990 Anne Bloomfield Survey.
The property is included in the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps beginning in 1928; however, the
maps for this portion of Pine Avenue are not clear as to which structure is located on the
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DISCUSSION (continued):
subject parcel due to the present configurations of property lines having since been modified.
Staff has estimated the location of the current parcel outlined in red (Attachment 1). The 1944
and 1956 maps are identical to the 1928 map in the configurations of structures along this
portion of Pine Avenue. Based on a comparison of present Google Earth aerial views and the
Sanborn maps, it appears that the main residence has been in its current location since at least
1928.
The applicant has provided an informational packet with their application, which includes a
summary of the history of the residence, and the research conducted as a part of this request
(Attachment 2). Based on the summary letter provided, the estimated construction date based
on the research conducted in the 1920’s. The original residence had 2 bedrooms and one bath.
The applicant states that a primary bedroom and carport/garage/storage area was added to the
residence in either the 1950’s or 1960’s based on the mismatched finishes and features.
The applicant believes that the required findings for removal from the Historic Resources
Inventory can be made for this property as the residence is not in its original condition and
there is nothing significant or remarkable about it.
The applicant has also provided pictures and descriptions of each picture of the current
residence, provided as Attachment 3. Town records are minimal: inspections for an Accessory
Dwelling Unit in 1985, a roofing permit in 1997, a remodel permit in 1998, and mechanical work
in 1998 (Attachment 4). Planning records are also provided in 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.
FINDINGS:
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:
1. The structure is not associated with events that have made a significant contribution
to the Town;
2. No Significant persons are associated with the site;
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FINDINGS (continued):
3. There are no distinctive characteristics of type, period or method of construction or
representation of work of a master;
4. The structure does not yield information to Town history; or
5. The integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the
potential to convey significance.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Sanborn Maps
2. Applicant’s Submittal Packet
3. Property Pictures and Descriptions
4. Building Permit Records
5. Planning Permit Records
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1928
17035 Pine Avenue
ATTACHMENT 1
1944
17035 Pine Avenue
1956
17035 Pine Avenue
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ATTACHMENT 2
ATTACHMENT 3
ATTACHMENT 4
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