Staff Report.310 Tait Ave
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: 12/18/2024
ITEM NO: 7
DATE: December 13, 2024
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Requesting Preliminary Review for Construction of a New Second-Story
Addition and Exterior Alterations to an Existing Non-Contributing Single-
Family Residence Located in the Almond Grove Historic District on Property
Zoned R-1D:LHP. Located at 310 Tait Avenue. APN 510-14-058. Exempt
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301: Existing Facilities. Request for
Review Application PHST-24-026. Property Owner: Santiago Allende.
Applicant: Donna Chivers. Project Planner: Erin Walters.
RECOMMENDATION:
Requesting preliminary review for construction of a new second-story addition and exterior
alterations to an existing non-contributing single-family residence located in the Almond Grove
Historic District on property zoned R-1D:LHP located at 310 Tait Avenue.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1918 per County Assessor’s Database
2. Town of Los Gatos Historic Status Code: N/A
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? No
6. Findings required? No
7. Considerations required? Yes
BACKGROUND:
The Santa Clara County’s Accessors Database lists a construction date of 1918 for the residence.
According to the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, the 1908 and 1928 map shows the property
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SUBJECT: 310 Tait Avenue/PHST-24-026
DATE: December 13, 2024
before it was subdivided and an accessory structure shown approximately in the footprint of
the subject residence. The footprint on the July 1944 and 1956 maps shows the house in its
current configuration located on a larger property, prior a lot split (Attachment 1).
The property is not included 1991 Anne Bloomfield Historic Survey. Town records show a
building permit for replacement of windows to match the existing aesthetics and originality of
the home and a reroof in 2007 (Attachment 2). The applicant provided a summary of the
property research (Attachment 3), as well as photographs of the property (Attachment 4).
DISCUSSION:
The subject property at 310 Tait Avenue is located on the east side of Tait Avenue, between
Bachman Avenue and Almendra Avenue. The applicant is requesting a preliminary review by
the Committee to provide feedback on a proposed first floor addition, and a new second-story
addition to the existing one-story house. The applicant provided a scope of work (Attachment
5).
The project proposes an internal remodel of the house, and a 256-square foot one-story
addition to the front and rear of the house. The project also proposes a new 730-square foot
second-story addition to the residence (Attachment 6).
The existing one-story cottage style house is approximately 12 feet, six inches in height with hip
roof. The existing house has a mix of tongue and groove vertical wood siding and horizontal lap
wood siding. The gable roof ends have wood scalloped vertical siding. The front elevation has
brick wainscoting that matches the brick chimney on the south elevation. The front door is a
wood decorative cottage style door. The existing windows are white vinyl with wood trim and
wood decorative shutters at the front elevation. The existing roof is asphalt composition
shingle.
The proposed residence would be 25 feet, one inches in height and would install exterior siding
to match the existing siding. The new roof would be composition shingle and introduces two
new bay windows at the front elevation. The existing windows would be replaced throughout
the home with a variety of window styles and shapes.
The existing brick chimney is proposed to be removed. The front elevation would retain the
brick wainscoting and introduces a new wood front door with sidelights. The proposed project
includes a proposed rear deck with wood railings.
The proposed project has not been evaluated to determine if it would fall below the Town’s
demolition thresholds for historic residences.
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SUBJECT: 310 Tait Avenue/PHST-24-026
DATE: December 13, 2024
Town’s Residential Design Guidelines
The Committee should consider Section 3.9 of the Town’s Residential Design Guidelines , which
provides recommendations for construction of additions to existing residences (Attach ment 7).
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 a new second-story addition
and exterior alterations an existing non-contributing single-family residence located at 310 Tait
Avenue. 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:
In historic districts, the proposed work will neither adversely affect the exterior
architectural characteristics or other features of the property which is the subject of
the application, nor adversely affect its relationship, in terms of harmony and
appropriateness, with its surroundings, including neighboring structures, nor adversely
affect the character, or the historical, architectural or aesthetic interest or value of the
district.
B. Residential Design Guidelines
Section 3.9 of the Town’s Residential Design Guidelines offers recommendations for
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SUBJECT: 310 Tait Avenue/PHST-24-026
DATE: December 13, 2024
construction of additions to existing residences (Attachment 5).
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
2. Permit Records
3. Property Research
4. Photographs
5. Request Letter from Applicant
6. Project Plans
7. Section 3.9, Residential Design Guidelines