Staff Report.14344 La Riconada
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: 4
DATE: August 23, 2024
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Preliminary Reivew for Construction of an Addition and Exterior Alterations to
an Existing Pre-1941 Single-Family Residence on Property Zoned R-1:8.
Located at 14344 La Rinconada Drive. APN 409-19-019. Exempt Pursuant to
CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301: Existing Facilities. Request for Review
Application PHST-24-013. Property Owner/Applicant: William Maynard.
Project Planner: Erin Walters
RECOMMENDATION:
Requesting preliminary review for construction of an addition and exterior alterations to an
existing pre-1941 single-family residence located at 14344 La Rinconada Drive.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1938 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? N/A
7. Considerations required? Yes
BACKGROUND:
The Santa Clara County’s Accessors Database lists a construction date of 1938 for the residence.
The property was annexed into the Town in the 1970s. The property is not part of the 1991
Anne Bloomfield Historic Survey.
Town records show no planning or building permits for the subject property. The applicant
provided a summary of the property research (Attachment 1), as well as photographs of the
property (Attachment 2).
PAGE 2 OF 3
SUBJECT: 14344 La Rinconada Drive/PHST-24-013
DATE: August 23, 2024
N:\DEV\HISTORIC PRESERVATION\HPC Reports and Attachments\2024\09-11-24 SPECIAL\Item 4 - 14344 La Rinconada Drive\Staff
Report.14344 La Riconada.docx
DISCUSSION:
The subject property at 14344 La Rinconada Drive is located on the east side of La Rinconada
Drive, perpendicular to Wedgewood Avenue. The applicant is requesting a preliminary review
by the Committee to provide feedback on a proposed one-story addition and two-story four-car
garage addition attached to the subject one-story house.
The project proposes a 120-square foot one-story addition located towards the rear of the
existing one-story house at the southern elevation. The one-story addition would connect the
existing house to a proposed 992-square foot, four-car garage.
The existing one-story house is 16 feet in height with a hip roof with two Dutch gables. The
four-car garage proposes a single Dutch gabled roof with a building height of 30 feet. The
height of the attic space proposed above the four-car garage constitutes a two-story building
per Town Code.
The proposed materials consist of horizontal eight-inch reveal wood siding, wood trim, double
hung vinyl windows, wood doors, and composition roofing to match the existing materials.
The proposed project will fall below the Town’s demolition thresholds for historic residences.
The applicant has provided a Project Description (Attachment 3) and Development Plans
(Attachment 4).
Town’s Residential Design Guidelines
The Committee should consider the Sections 3.9 of the Town’s Residential Design Guidelines
which provides recommendations for construction of additions to existing residences
(Attachment 5). Including but not limited to the following recommendations:
• 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.
CONCLUSION:
The applicant is requesting preliminary review for construction of an addition and exterior
alterations to an existing pre-1941 single-family residence. Located at 14344 La Rinconada
PAGE 3 OF 3
SUBJECT: 14344 La Rinconada Drive/PHST-24-013
DATE: August 23, 2024
N:\DEV\HISTORIC PRESERVATION\HPC Reports and Attachments\2024\09-11-24 SPECIAL\Item 4 - 14344 La Rinconada Drive\Staff
Report.14344 La Riconada.docx
CONCLUSION (continued):
Drive. 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 recommendation to be forwarded to the Community Development Director and the
application would continue through the Minor Residential Development process.
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).
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Applicant’s Research
2. Photographs
3. Project Description
4. Development Plans
5. Section 3.9, Residential Design Guidelines
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank