Staff Report.78-80 W. Main Street
PREPARED BY: Sean Mullin, AICP
Senior 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: 05/22/2024
ITEM NO: 3
DATE: May 17, 2023
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Requesting Approval for Removal and Replacement In-Kind of Wood Siding
on a Commercial Structure Located in the Historic Commercial District on
Property Zoned C-2:LHP. Located at 78-80 W. Main Street. APN 529-02-007.
Minor Development in a Historic District Application HS -24-019. Property
Owner/Applicant: Marital Trust – Rita I Minnis, Trustee. Project Planner:
Sean Mullin.
RECOMMENDATION:
Requesting approval for removal and replacement in-kind of wood siding on a commercial
structure located in the Historic Commercial District on property zoned C-2:LHP, located at 78-
80 W. Main Street.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1901 per County Assessor’s Database; c. 1860s per
Bloomfield Survey; 1901 per Ordinance 1843
2. Town of Los Gatos 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, Historic Commercial District
5. If yes, is it a contributor? Yes
6. Findings required? Yes
7. Considerations required? Yes
BACKGROUND:
The County Assessor indicates that the building located at 78-81 W. Main Street was
constructed in 1901. The 1991 Bloomfield Survey estimates the construction date as the 18 60s
and rates the structure as historic and intact or worthy of special note (Attachment 1).
Ordinance 1843, which established the Historic Commercial District, identifies the structure as a
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SUBJECT: 78-80 W. Main Street/HS-24-019
DATE: May 17, 2024
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BACKGROUND (continued):
contributor to the district (Attachment 2). The Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps show that the
current structure was built between 1908 and 1928 (Attachment 3).
The applicant proposes to remove the existing horizontal wood lap siding and replace it in-kind
with custom milled redwood siding.
DISCUSSION:
The applicant requests approval to remove the existing horizontal wood siding and to replace it
in-kind with custom-milled redwood siding to match the existing material, size, and profile. The
applicant indicates that portions of the existing wood siding are damaged by rot and that full
replacement is desired to avoid the need to replace any portions of remaining siding in the near
future. Additionally, full replacement would allow for new waterproofing to be installed . The
applicant indicates that the new matching siding would be installed, primed, and painted the
same color as the existing building resulting in no change to the exterior appearance.
Town Code Section 29.10.020 clarifies that demolition of a historic structure means removal of
more than twenty-five percent of the wall(s) facing a public street or fifty percent of all exterior
walls. The removal and replacement of in-kind, non-repairable exterior wall covering resulting
in no change to its exterior appearance or historic character is exempt from the above
definition when approved by the deciding body.
The applicant is seeking a determination from the Committee that the removal and
replacement in-kind of the siding is appropriate and therefore exempt from the demolition
definition. Should the Committee find merit in the request, Building Permit revision s could be
approved by the Town and the project would not return to the Committee. However, the
property would continue to retain its historic designation and would return to the Committee if
other exterior modifications are proposed in the future.
CONCLUSION:
Should the Committee find merit in the proposed project, it should make the following findings
and considerations and forward a recommendation of approval to the Community
Development Director. The project would be completed through a revision to the issued
Building Permit and would not return to the Committee.
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SUBJECT: 78-80 W. Main Street/HS-24-019
DATE: May 17, 2024
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FINDINGS AND CONSIDERATIONS:
A. Findings
Sec. 29.10.020. Demolition (historic structures)
All remaining exterior walls must be contiguous and must retain the existing exterior wall
covering. No new exterior wall covering shall be permitted over the existing exterior wall
covering. The following are exempt from this definition:
a. Replacement. The exterior wall covering may be removed if the covering is not
original to the structure.
X b. Repair. The removal and replacement of in kind non -repairable exterior wall
covering (siding) resulting in no change to its exterior appearance or historic
character if approved by the deciding body.
c. Removal. The removal of an addition(s) that is not part of the original structure
and which has no historic significance, as determined by the Historic Preservation
Committee. Demolition shall be determined by subsections (1) and (2) above for
the original structure, where walls enclosed by additions shall be considered as
exterior walls.
B. Considerations
Sec. 29.80.290. Standards for review.
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:
X 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.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 1990 Anne Bloomfield Survey
2. Ordinance 1843
3. Sanborn Exhibit
4. Photo
5. Project Plans
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