Attachment 8 - Consulting Architect ReviewSeptember 6 2024
Ms. Maria Chavarin
Community Development Department
Town of Los Gatos
110 E. Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95031
RE: 52 Ashler Avenue
Dear Maria:
I reviewed the drawings and evaluated the neighborhood context. My comments and recommendations on
the design are as follows:
NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT
The site is located in an older established neighborhood of traditional style homes with a mix on one and to
story structures.. Photos of the site and existing home on the site are shown on the following page.
ATTACHMENT 8
52 Ashler Avenue
Design Review Comments
September 6, 2024 Page 2
THE SITE: Ashler Avenue
House to the immediate left on San Benito Avenue Site and house to the immediate right on Ashler Avenue
Nearby houses across San Benito Avenue
Nearby house across Ashler Avenue
THE SITE: San Benito Avenue
Nearby houses across San Benito Avenue
Nearby house across Ashler Avenue
52 Ashler Avenue
Design Review Comments
September 6, 2024 Page 3
PROPOSED PROJECT
Proposed Rear Elevation
Proposed Left Side Elevation
Proposed Right Side Elevation
Proposed Front Elevation Existing Front Elevation
Existing Left Side Elevation
Existing Right Side Elevation
Existing Rear Elevation
52 Ashler Avenue
Design Review Comments
September 6, 2024 Page 4
ISSUES AND CONCERNS
This is a corner property with facades facing both Ashler Avenue and San Benito Avenue. All existing facades
are well articulated as is common for other nearby homes. The proposed addition would fill in the recesses on
both front facade edges facing or highly visible from the street frontages. Significant isues include the follow-
ing.
1. The small bay projections on the front facade upper floor would be too small in relation to other nearby
home front facades and would not be consistent with Residential Design Guideline 3.3.2.
3.3.2 Height and bulk at front and side setbacks
Give special attention to adapting to the height and massing of adjacent homes. Avoid tall, unbroken front facades when
other nearby homes have more articulated front facades with horizontal wall plane changes.
Houses that are elevated above the street shall be designed to be compatible in height and mass with the other houses on that
side of the street, and should include design techniques to minimize the visual mass resulting from its raised elevation.
2. The resulting highly visible side walls would be two stories in height with very little articulation which
would not be consistent with Residential Design Guideline 3.3.3.
3.3.3 Provide visual relief for two story walls
52 Ashler Avenue
Design Review Comments
September 6, 2024 Page 5
3. The opening shown at the top of the San Benito Avenue facade is unclear as to its purpose or design.
CURRENT SAN BENITO AVENUE FACADE ARTICULATION
52 Ashler Avenue
Design Review Comments
September 6, 2024 Page 6
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Increase the bay projections on the front facade.
2. Resolve the awkward opening on the left side facade.
4. Add a shed roof along both side facades to break up the two story wall. An example is shown on the
photo of the immediately adjacent home on Ashler Avenue.
52 Ashler Avenue
Design Review Comments
September 6, 2024 Page 7
Maria, please let me know if you have any questions or if there are any issues that I did not address.
Sincerely,
CANNON DESIGN GROUP
Larry L. Cannon
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