Item 1 - Staff Report with Attachment 9.200 Hernandez Avenue
PREPARED BY: Sean Mullin, AICP
Planning Manager
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMITTEE REPORT
MEETING DATE: 11/20/2024
ITEM NO: 1
DATE: November 15, 2024
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Requesting Approval for Exterior Alterations to a Pre-1941 Single-Family
Residence on Property Zoned R-1:12. Located at 200 Hernandez Avenue.
APN 510-21-003. Request for Review Application PHST-24-018. Exempt
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301: Existing Facilities. Property
Owner/Applicant: Vaishali Singh-Sood. Project Planner: Sean Mullin.
BACKGROUND:
On September 25, 2024, the Historic Preservation Committee discussed the above request and
continued consideration, providing the following direction to the applicant:
• Consider a barrel tile roof style more consistent with the existing architecture with
consideration of alternative materials, including composite or metal;
• Provide documentation describing why the existing roof structure is not capable of
supporting a clay barrel tile roof; and
• Provide a comparison of the fire-resistant characteristics of the standing seam metal roof
and a metal or composite barrel tile roof system.
On October 23, 2024, the Los Gatos Historic Preservation Committee continued consideration
of the above request, providing the following direction to the applicant:
• Provide documentation from a licensed structural engineer opining on the weight capacity
that can be supported by the existing roof structure;
• Provide documentation from a licensed structural engineer opining on whether the existing
roof structure can support roofing examples provided through the Committee (attached);
and
• Return to the Committee with a revised roof that includes either: 1) Barrel style roofing
along the eaves of the residence, or 2) Barrel style roofing on the entire roof. Materials
alternative to traditional barrel tiles is acceptable.
DISCUSSION:
The applicant submitted a letter responding to the Committee’s direction provided at the
October 23, 2024, meeting (Attachment 9).
PAGE 2 OF 3
SUBJECT: 200 Hernandez Avenue/PHST-24-018
DATE: November 15, 2024
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 4.4.8 of the Town’s Residential Design Guidelines offers recommendations
specifically for the roofing material for Mission Revival or Mediterranean style structures
(Attachment 5).
CONCLUSION:
The applicant is requesting approval for exterior alterations (roof replacement) to a pre -1941
single-family residence on property zoned R-1:12 located at 200 Hernandez Avenue. Should the
Committee find merit in the request, a recommendation of approval should be forwarded to
the Community Development Director. The proposed work would be completed with a Building
Permit and would not return to the Committee for further review.
ATTACHMENTS:
Previously received with the September 25, 2024, Staff Report:
1. 1990 Anne Bloomfield Survey
2. Sanborn Map Exhibit
3. Letter of Justification
4. Project Description
5. Section 4.8.8, Residential Design Guidelines
6. Exterior Photo
Previously received with the October 23, 2024, Staff Report
7. Additional information regarding metal roofing
8. Image of Mediterranean style residence with metal roof
PAGE 3 OF 3
SUBJECT: 200 Hernandez Avenue/PHST-24-018
DATE: November 15, 2024
ATTACHMENTS (continued):
Received with this Staff Report:
9. Applicant Response Letter
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank
11/1 0/2024
Dear Historic Preservation Committee,
I am writing this letter in response to the last Hearing which was held on October 25th,
2024. During that meeting, it was requested I, Vaishali Singh-Sood provide
documentation from a structural engineer opining the weight capacity that can be
supported by the existing roof structure, and whether the existing roof structure can
support roofing styles provided through the committee (which were attached to the
letter). Lastly, I, Vaishali Singh-Sood was requested to provide a revised roof to the
committee with either a barrel style roofing along the eaves of the residence, or a barrel
style roof on the entire roof. I was advised that alternatives to traditional barrel tile is
acceptable.
Since the October 25th hearing, I, Vaishali Singh-Sood attempted to contact several
structural engineers to obtain the first two items requested. However, there were not any
structural engineers willing to provide this type of feedback and/or take on this project
being requested. I was advised that engineers take on the full build of an existing home,
and/or a new home. A copy of the structural engineers contacted will be provided in a
separate document.
Previously, various roofers who observed the job site located at 200 Hernandez in Los
Gatos informed me that due to the low pitch of the roof design on 200 Hernandez
Avenue, a barrel style roof was not suitable due to the crevices on a barrel style coupled
with the low pitch of the current frame, that water can enter, and possibly destroy the
roof. Additionally, those same roofers performed a visual inspection of the surrounding
area, which is in a fire prone zone. Multiple roofers highly recommended a standing
seam metal roof. The reason for the recommendation was that the metal roof can assist
with fire protection. The standing seam is also a lighter weight material which is all that
the existing frame can support. Hence, the standing seam roof would also address the
low pitch the home currently has as a support.
I, Vaishali Singh-Sood am more than willing to obtain a roof style that has a barrel roof
on the eaves of the roof. The last hearing indicated that this would be acceptable.
However, the Committee did not provide what material would be acceptable for the
remaining portion of the roof. I am respectfully requesting that I be allowed to place a
black standing seam roof on the roof with the barrel on all eaves of the roof. The original
roof was a black roof.
I am also respectfully requesting that the Committee please not continue this matter
again. This matter has been continued several times, and we are in the rainy season.
Our home has been damaged even after the roofers attempted to protect the home. The
roof had holes from redwood branches that made holes in the roof last winter. Our
carpets smell from the rain we recently had, and there is wall damage from the water
ATTACHMENT 9
which we can share with you as the rainwater was filling in pans and buckets in our
home.
Lastly, it is respectfully requested that you only require homeowners to obtain items for
hearings that a homeowner can obtain. Typically, Structural Engineers do not provide
the type of requests that were asked of us. Sometimes, aesthetics of a home is not what
is safe for the home depending on various reasons such as the home’s age, location,
etc. Being a special agent for many years, and conducting very serious types of
investigations, it should be noted, that one can be held accountable for a lawsuit if they
are not fully knowledgeable in what is entailed in home build for it to be safe which is a
higher concern that aesthetics.
Sincerely,
Vaishali Singh-Sood