Staff Report.80 Cleland Avenue
PREPARED BY: Erin Walters
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: 02/28/2024
ITEM NO: 8
DATE: February 23, 2024
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Preliminary Review for Construction of Exterior Alterations and a New Second-
Story Addition to an Existing Pre-1941 Single-Family Residence on Property
Zoned R-1D. Located at 80 Cleland Avenue. APN 529-33-026. Categorically
Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301: Existing Facilities. Request
for Review PHST-23-021. Property Owner: Dinesh Mishra. Applicant: Davide
Giannella, Acadia Architecture. Project Planner: Erin Walters.
DISCUSSION:
On November 15, 2023, the Committee made a determination that the subject residence is a
historic home and considered proposed exterior alterations and additions (Attachment 1). The
Committee provided the following feedback:
• The style of the design is not consistent with the neighborhood, too modern;
• The house appears to be a historic home and should not be removed from the
inventory;
• The massing is appropriate;
• The standing seam metal roof appears too modern, the roof should retain a composite
roof material;
• The windows could be broken up with window lites to match the existing; and
• Addition should maintain the historic look of the original house.
The applicant submitted revised plans and a letter summarizing their response to the
Committee’s direction (Attachment 2). The revised plans include the following modification s:
• Composition shingles to match existing;
• Door and window trim to match existing;
• Modified window shape and layout;
• Wood siding shiplap to match existing dimensions;
PAGE 2 OF 2
SUBJECT: 80 Cleland Avenue/PHST-23-021
DATE: February 23, 2024
N:\DEV\HISTORIC PRESERVATION\HPC Reports and Attachments\2024\02-28-24\Item 8 - 80 Cleland Avenue - Preliminary Review\Staff Report.80 Cleland
Avenue.docx
DISCUSSION (continued):
• Extended wood trellis to match existing;
• Wood railings to match existing with an added metal mesh for Code compliance;
• New first floor left hip roof to match the existing roof hip on the right side of the house;
and
• Removed one of the large, proposed skylights that was facing the street on East
Elevation.
CONSIDERATIONS:
A. 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:
For pre-1941 structures, the proposed work will neither adversely affect the exterior
architectural characteristics or other features of the property which is the subject of
the application.
B. Residential Design Guidelines
Sections 3.9 of the Town’s Residential Design Guidelines offers recommendations for
construction of additions to existing residences (Attachment 5 of Attachment 1, November
11, 2024, Historic Preservation Committee Staff Report).
CONCLUSION:
The applicant is requesting the Committee to provide preliminary feedback on the first and
second story additions with exterior modifications (Attachment 3). A new second-story
addition, if not triggering a technical demolition, is processed under a Minor Residential
Development application. This application would return to the Committee for a formal
recommendation to the deciding body.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. November 11, 2023 Historic Preservation Committee Staff Report
2. Response Letter
3. Revised Development Plans