Staff Report.145 Tait
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: 09/11/2024
ITEM NO: 1
DATE: August 23, 2024
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Requesting Approval for Construction of a Second-Story Addition Exceeding
100 Square Feet and Exterior Alterations to an Existing Contributing Single-
Family Residence Located in the Almond Grove Historic District on Property
Zoned R-1D:LHP. Located on 145 Tait Avenue. APN 510-18-029. Exempt
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301: Existing Facilities. Minor
Residential Development Application MR-24-010. Property Owner: Jennifer
McNellis. Applicant: Eric Beckstrom. Project Planner: Erin Walters.
RECOMMENDATION:
Requesting approval for construction of a second-story addition exceeding 100 square feet and
exterior alterations to an existing pre-1941 single-family residence located at 145 Tait Avenue.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1920 per County Assessor’s Database; 1910s per Anne
Bloomfield Survey
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, Almond Grove Historic District
5. If yes, is it a contributor? Yes
6. Findings required? N/A
7. Considerations required? Yes
BACKGROUND:
The subject property at 145 Tait Avenue is located northwest side of Tait Avenue, between
Nicholson Avenue and Bean Avenue. The Santa Clara County’s Accessors Database lists a
construction date of 1920 for the residence. The 1991 Bloomfield Survey indicates that the
Craftsman style residential building was constructed in the 1910’s (Attachment 1). The
Bloomfield Survey rates the residence as “historic and intact or worthy of special note” or
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SUBJECT: 145 Tait Avenue/MR-24-010
DATE: August 23, 2024
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BACKGROUND (continued):
“historic and some altered but still contributor to district if there is one” (Attachment 1). The
property is located in the Almond Grove Historic District and is contributor to the district. The
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps show that the footprint of the residence remained consistent
between 1928 and 1956 (Attachment 2).
Town records indicate the Historic Preservation Committee recommended approval of a one-
and two-story addition located to the rear of original structure in 1995 (HS-95-6) and a building
permit was issued in 1996 for the addition (B96-000632). The applicant provided a summary of
the property research (Attachment 3), as well as photographs of the property (Attachment 4).
DISCUSSION:
Minor Residential Development application MR-24-10 was submitted on July 29, 2024,
proposing construction of a second-story addition exceeding 100 square feet and exterior
alterations to an existing pre-1941 single-family residence.
The project includes the following:
• Construction of a one-story addition of 35-square feet to the living room at the northern
elevation;
• Construction of an attached one-car garage addition of 230-square feet at the rear
elevation with carriage style door;
• Replacement of the existing two-car garage door with carriage style door to match;
• Construction of a two-story addition of 145-square feet over the existing rear garage;
• Removal of the existing 1996 brick chimney;
• Replacement of front door with wood door with glazing; and
• Replacement of the existing 1996 wood windows on all four elevations with new
aluminum-clad wood windows with muntins.
The proposed materials consist of horizontal wood siding, wood trim, wood decorative
brackets, aluminum-clad wood windows, and composition roofing to match the existing
materials.
The applicant provided a Project Description (Attachment 5) and Development Plans
(Attachment 6).
The Committee should consider Section 3.9 of the Town’s Residential Design Guidelines, which
provides recommendations for construction of additions to existing residences (Attachment 7).
Including but not limited to the following recommendations:
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SUBJECT: 145 Tait Avenue/MR-24-010
DATE: August 23, 2024
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DISCUSSION (continued):
• The existing built forms, components and materials should be reinforced. Heights and
proportions of additions and alterations should be consistent with and continue the original
architectural style and design.
• Additions should be subordinate, and compatible in scale and proportion to the historically
significant portions of the existing structure.
• When an addition or remodel requires the use of newly constructed exterior elements, they
should be identical in size, dimension, shape, and location as the original, and should utilize
the same materials as the existing protected exterior elements.
As part of this review the applicant has not provided a full demolition plan but has indicated
that the proposed project will fall below Town’s demolition thresholds for historic residences.
A demolition plan will be provided by the applicant prior to going to public hearing.
CONCLUSION:
The applicant is requesting approval for construction of a second-story addition exceeding 100
square feet and exterior alterations to an existing pre-1941 single-family residence located at
145 Tait Avenue. Should the Committee find merit in the request, the recommendation would
be forwarded to the Community Development Director and the application would continue
through the Minor Residential Development process. The project would not return to the
Committee.
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 7).
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SUBJECT: 145 Tait Avenue/MR-24-010
DATE: August 23, 2024
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ATTACHMENTS:
1. Bloomfield
2. Sanborn Maps
3. Applicant’s Research
4. Photographs
5. Project Description
6. Development Plans
7. Section 3.9, Residential Design Guidelines