Item 6 - Staff Report with Attachments 1 through 5.333 Los Gatos Blvd
PREPARED BY: Sean Mullin, AICP
Planning Manager
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6874
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMITTEE REPORT
MEETING DATE: 11/20/2024
ITEM NO: 6
DATE: March 21, 2025
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Consider a Request for Preliminary Review to Construct an Addition to an
Existing Pre-1941 Single-Family Residence on Property Zoned R-1D. Located
at 333 Los Gatos Boulevard. APN 529-22-021. Exempt Pursuant to CEQA
Section 15301: Existing Facilities. Request for Review Application PHST-25-
004. Property Owner/Applicant: Nichola Palmer. Project Planner: Sean
Mullin.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider a request for preliminary review to construct an addition to an existing pre-1941
single-family residence on property zoned R-1D, located at 333 Los Gatos Boulevard.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1912 (effective year built 1922) per County Assessor’s
Database
2. Town of Los Gatos Historic Status Code: +, historic and intact, worthy of special note
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? No
7. Considerations required? Yes
BACKGROUND:
The subject property is located on the west side of Los Gatos Boulevard near the intersection
with Harding Avenue. The County Assessor reports that the residence was constructed in 1912,
with an effective year built of 1922. The Anne Bloomfield survey provides an estimated
construction date of the 1900s and assigns a preliminary rating of “+” or historic and intact,
worthy of special note (Attachment 1).
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SUBJECT: 333 Los Gatos Boulevard/PHST-25-004
DATE: March 21, 2025
The Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps do not provide coverage for the property until 1928. The
footprint of the residence remains consistent between the 1928 and the 1956 maps
(Attachment 2). Town records include a permit to repair earthquake damage to the fireplace in
1990.
DISCUSSION:
The applicant provided a Letter of Justification for the proposed project (Attachment 3). The
applicant is requesting preliminary review of a proposal to construct an addition and exterior
alterations to the existing residence (Attachment 5). The addition would be constructed on the
left side of the front elevation, within a portion of the existing covered porch. The
approximately 65-square foot addition would accommodate a new bathroom for the residence.
The addition includes wood siding to match the existing, as well as two new windows. An eight-
over-one divided lite window would be located on the front elevation and a four-over-one
divided lite window would be located on the left side elevation. The proposed divided lite
patterns would be consistent with other existing windows on the residence. Information
regarding window materials and trim profiles were not provided for this preliminary review.
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
Section 3.9 of the Town’s Residential Design Guidelines offers recommendations for
construction of additions to existing residences (Attachment 5).
CONCLUSION:
Consider a request for preliminary review of a proposal to construct an addition to an existing
pre-1941 single-family residence on property zoned R-1D, located at 333 Los Gatos Boulevard.
It appears that the project could be accomplished under a Building Permit. Once the process is
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SUBJECT: 333 Los Gatos Boulevard/PHST-25-004
DATE: March 21, 2025
confirmed, this application would return to the Committee for a recommendation to be
forwarded to the Community Development Director.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Anne Bloomfield Survey
2. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps Exhibit
3. Letter of Justification
4. Section 3.9, Residential Design Guidelines
5. Development Plans
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LOS GATOS HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY
TALLY SHEET
Building or District Name 'l?o..-s J-'Vl V S>o~n ~'
Address(es) 333 L~ :zs
Adjusted
E VG G F/P Criteria Total Total
10 5 (i) 0 Type
10 5 Q 0 Construction
10 (9 2 0 Style
8 4 ~ Q Architect
25 uv 6 0 Design
8 4 2 ,CD Interior :Z/
/( '-/ ARCHITECTURE (Max . 50)
lO 5 G) 1/0 Age
15 8 (!) 0 Person
10 5 2 (£) Event
15 (j) 4 0 Patterns /_!}_
4 Co HISTORY ~Max. 25)
25 12 G) 0 Scale/Massing
8 (;) 2 0 Setting
25 12 6 ~ Landmark !o
ENVIRONMENT (Max. 25)
1J) -6 -12 125 INTEGRITY -a
Cumulative Rating: CUMULATIVE TOTAL 1/6
60+ = 3 (appears eligible for National Register) ~5 (appears eligible for local l i sting)
D (contributor to district rated one of the above)
22-= 6 or 7 (ineligible) or non-contributor
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1928
ATTACHMENT 2Page 153
1944
Page 154
1956
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January 29, 2025
RE: Pre-Planning Application, Scope of Work.
APN 529-22-021
The purpose of this pre-planning application is to discuss/review the details of our intended project with the
Historic Preservation Committee (HPC), prior to incurring substantial design costs. We fully understand that a
complete submittal with MEP’s, Structural Review…etc. will be required prior to permit. The drawings and photos
uploaded are simply intended to show intent.
Below is a description of the intended work, along with a summary of finishes and reference photos.
Scope Of Work
Add approximately 65 sf of enclosed space on the existing patio to the left of the entry door when facing the
property from the street. Existing roofline to remain as is, no modifications to be made. Bathroom will be
approximately 10’-0” x 6’-10”, therefore falling below the 25% threshold per Section 29.10.020 of the Los Gatos
Town Code when it comes to removal of existing walls facing a public street. To enclose this section of the existing
patio, we will use wood siding to match existing, along with installing two new windows, one facing the street and
the second facing the driveway. Covered patio to the right of entry door to remain as is, no modifications. Once
scope of work is complete, our intent is that it looks and feels as though it was part of the original structure when
the home was build in 1912.
Photo 1: Existing property, front patio. Added bathroom would enclose section to left of entry door, between the first
two white columns.
Drawing 1: Snapshot from plan document, showing location and size of enclosed patio, along with critical
dimensions. ATTACHMENT 3Page 157
Photo 2: Proposed bathroom would enclose this section of the patio, starting approximately 6”-12” from existing
entry door trim (see red line above). No modifications to be made to entry door/trim.
Photo 3: Existing window (street facing) to be removed, replaced with door to new bathroom.
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Photo 4: Reference image of 255 Los Gatos Blvd. showing partially enclosed patio (right side). With two new
windows. Proposed modification to subject property (333 Los gatos Blvd) would be a single window with additional
wood siding to match existing.
Photo 5: Reference image of 241 Los Gatos Blvd. showing partially enclosed patio (right side). With three new
windows. Proposed modification to subject property (333 Los gatos Blvd) would be a single window with additional
wood siding to match existing.
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Residential Design Guidelines 33
Town of Los Gatos BUILDING DESIGN3
3.8.3 Use traditional detailing
•Treat openings in walls as though they were constructed of
the traditional material for the style. For example, be sure to
provide substantial wall space above arches in stucco and
stone walls. Traditionally, wall space above the arch would
have been necessary to structurally span the opening, and
to make the space too small is inconsistent with the archi-
tectural style.
•Openings in walls faced with stone, real or synthetic, should
have defined lintels above the opening except in Mission or
Spanish Eclectic styles. Lintels may be stone, brick or wood
as suits the style of the house.
•Treat synthetic materials as though they were authentic.
For example, select synthetic stone patterns that place the
individual stones in a horizontal plane as they would have
been in a load bearing masonry wall.
•Select roof materials that are consistent with the traditional
architectural style (e.g., avoid concrete roof tiles on a Crafts-
man Style house.)
3.8.4 Materials changes
•Make materials and color changes at inside corners rather
than outside corners to avoid a pasted on look.
3.9 ADDITIONS/ACCESSORY BUILDINGS/SECONDARY
UNITS
•Site additions in the least conspicuous place. In many cases
this is a rear or side elevation - only rarely is it a rooftop.
•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
Use stone or wood lintels over
openings in stone walls
Additions, accessory buildings and secondary
units should match the form, architectural
style, and details of the original house
ATTACHMENT 4
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Residential Design Guidelines34
Town of Los Gatos
BUILDING DESIGN3
should utilize the same materials as the existing protected
exterior elements.
•When an addition necessitates the removal of architectural
materials, such as siding, windows, doors, and decorative
elements, they should be carefully removed and reused in
the addition where possible.
•The introduction of window and door openings not char-
acteristic in proportion, scale, or style with the original
architecture is strongly discouraged (e.g., sliding windows or
doors in a structure characterized by double hung windows
and swinging doors).
•The character of any addition or alteration should be in
keeping with and subordinate to the integrity of the original
structure.
•The amount of foundation exposed on the addition should
match that of the original building.
•Do not add roof top additions where the roof is of historic
significance.
•Second floor additions are discouraged in neighborhoods
with largely one story homes. If horizontal expansion of
the house is not possible, consider incorporating a second
floor addition within the roof form as shown in the example
to the left.
•Second floor additions which are not embedded within the
roof form should be located to the rear of the structure.
•The height and proportion of an addition or a second story
should not dominate the original structure.
•Deck additions should be placed to the rear of the struc-
ture only, and should be subordinate in terms of scale and
detailing.
•New outbuildings, such as garages, should be clearly subor-
dinate to the main structure in massing, and should utilize
forms, materials and details which are similar to the main
structure.
•Garages should generally be located to the rear of the lot
behind the rear wall of the residence. One car wide access
driveways should be utilized.
Original structure
Addition incorporated into the roof
successfully adds space while respecting the
integrity of the existing house and the scale of
the neighborhood
Placing a two story addition to the rear can minimize its impact on the historic resource and the scale of the neighborhood
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