09-27-23 Minutes - HPC (PDF)
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6874
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMITTEE REPORT
MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING
SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
The Historic Preservation Committee of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a regular meeting on
September 27, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 4:00 PM
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Barry Cheskin, Planning Commissioner Steve Raspe, and Committee Member Lee
Quintana.
Absent: Vice Chair Susan Burnett and Committee Member Martha Queiroz.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approval of Minutes – August 23, 2023
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Raspe to approve the Consent Calendar.
Seconded by Committee Member Quintana.
VOTE: Motion passed, 2-0. Chair Cheskin abstained.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 63 Highland Avenue
Request for Review PHST-23-013
Consider a Request to Remove a Pre-1941 Property from the Historic Resources
Inventory for Property Zoned HR-2 1/2. APN 529 36 044. Exempt Pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
Property Owner/Applicant: Minghuang Ma
Project Planner: Savannah Van Akin
(Continued from August 23, 2023)
Savannah Van Akin, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report.
PAGE 2 OF 5 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
Opened Public Comment.
Minghuang Ma, Owner/Applicant
- They provided more information and photos of the second address, 65 Highland Avenue.
This structure was built in 1946.
Closed Public Comment.
Committee members discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Raspe to Approve the Request to Remove a
Pre-1941 Property from the Historic Resources Inventory for Property
Zoned HR-2 1/2. APN 529 36 044. Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines
Section 15061(b)(3). Seconded by Chair Cheskin.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
Appeal rights were recited.
3. 17035 Pine Avenue
Request for Review PHST-23-005
Consider a Request to Remove a Pre-1941 Property from the Historic Resources
Inventory for Property Zoned R-1:8. APN 529-20-010. Exempt Pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
Property Owners/Applicants: Garrett and Alive Brown
Project Planner: Jocelyn Shoopman
Jocelyn Shoopman, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Garrett Brown, Owner/Applicant
- They brought a picture packet with descriptions. It is a small two-bedroom farmhouse. A
master was added in the 1960s and later other upgrades. The front of the house and
master have the wide eight-inch plank siding. The eastern and northern sides have the
original shiplap siding. Additions were made over the years that have compromised the
original home. Double paned windows were added to the garage as a windbreak. Vinyl
corrugated siding was added as overhangs. The doors and interior light switches were done
in the 1950’s and 1960’s. No significant person, place or event was found to be connected
to the house. They intend to keep the house and build in the back.
PAGE 3 OF 5 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
Committee members asked questions of staff.
Staff: Jocelyn Shoopman, Project Planner
- Senate Bill (SB) 9 cannot be utilized for a property with a historic structure. Even though
the lot is just under an acre, it does not meet frontage requirements for a standard
subdivision. Flag lots are discouraged per the General Plan.
Closed Public Comment.
Committee members discussed the matter.
• Applicant has brought further material.
• The additions done in the 1950’s and 1960’s, including the siding and vinyl windows, has
created a totally different house.
• The SB 9 Ordinance should be modified to protect our historic areas and structures, and still
allow for a lot split for large parcels like the subject property.
MOTION: Motion by Chair Cheskin to approve a request to remove a pre-1941
property from the Historic Resources Inventory for property zoned R-1:8.
APN 529-20-010. Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section
15061(b)(3). Seconded by Commissioner Raspe.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
Appeal rights were recited.
4. 26 Ashler Avenue
Request for Review PHST-23-011
Preliminary Review for Exterior Alterations and Construction of an Addition to an
Existing Pre-1941 Single-Family Residence on Property Zoned R-1D. Located at 26 Ashler
Avenue. APN 410-14-042. Categorically Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section
15301: Existing Facilities.
Property Owners: Fernando Saenz and Maria Dolores Stacey
Applicant: Clara G. Portillo
Project Planner: Sean Mullin
(Continued from August 23, 2023)
Sean Mullin, Senior Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
PAGE 4 OF 5 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
Clara G. Portillo, Applicant
- The plans have been revised according to prior HPC comments. They have added double
hung windows.
- The ceiling is very low in the kitchen which affects the size and position of the windows.
- They would consider adding small windows in proportion to the other windows.
Closed Public Comment.
Committee members discussed the matter.
MOTION: Motion by Committee Member Quintana to Recommend Approval of
Exterior Alterations and Construction of an Addition to an Existing Pre-
1941 Single-Family Residence on Property Zoned R-1D. Located at 26
Ashler Avenue, commending the applicant’s willingness to consider
changes the windows, and recommending that the proportion of the new
windows at the kitchen match the other windows. The application does
not need to return to the HPC. Seconded by Chair Cheskin.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
5. 112 Wilder Avenue
Architecture and Site Application S-23-017
Requesting Approval for Construction of an Addition to a Single-Family Residence to
Exceed the Floor Area Ratio Standards on Property Located in the Almond Grove
Historic District Zoned R-1D:LHP. APN 510-17-103. Categorically Exempt Pursuant to
CEQA Guidelines Section 15301: Existing Facilities.
Property Owners: Andrea Grant and Tarek Robbiati
Applicant: Jay Plett
Project Planner: Jocelyn Shoopman
Jocelyn Shoopman, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Opened and Closed Public Comment.
Committee members discussed the matter.
• The applicant provided the FAR as requested.
• The project is consistent with the neighborhood.
• Any structure with a three-sided enclosure may be initially approved, but it is not
counted as FAR. The mass and scale should be considered at the beginning since it will
inevitably return for exception when enclosed.
PAGE 5 OF 5 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
• Recess the door a few more feet to break up a flat wall.
• They are enclosing an existing structure built in 2010. It exceeds the FAR but is not the
first or the biggest in the area. It fits within the neighborhood.
MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Raspe to Recommend Approval for
Construction of an Addition to a Single-Family Residence to Exceed the
Floor Area Ratio Standards on Property Located in the Almond Grove
Historic District Zoned R-1D:LHP. APN 510-17-103. Seconded by Chair
Cheskin.
VOTE: Motion passed, 2-0. Committee Member Quintana abstained because
she was not in attendance when this was first heard as a preliminary
application on June 28, 2023.
OTHER BUSINESS (Up to three minutes may be allotted to each speaker on any of the following
items.)
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
September 27, 2023 meeting as approved by the
Historic Preservation Committee.
/s/ Jennifer Armer, AICP, Planning Manager