Exhibit 11 - Applicant’s Response to Consulting Architect’s Report151 EAST MAIN STREET
August 30, 2024
COMMENTS FROM CANNON DESIGN GROUP
The design is inspired by the work of William Weeks, Architect and the surrounding hotel
and 131 Main Street. The use of brick, precast concrete trim and details are consistent
with this inspiration. See Sheet A0.1 for additional design imagery of work by William
Weeks, Architect. The use of brick, exterior plaster and grid window glass are design
features found in Los Gatos. The upper floor is stepped back to reduce its scale and
mass. Materials include exterior plaster, clay tile roofing and wood trellis features all similar
to The Los Gatos Hotel located across Main Street per comment #4.
Response to Cannon Design Comments
The current landscape drawings, Site Plan and First Floor Plan have been updated to add
additional landscape to the residential entries on Main Street and Church Street as
recommended in Item #1. We have extended the cornice treatment around all facades
per recommendation comment #2. We have also eliminated the vertical design feature
at the Main Street entry and substituted a lower gable roof form similar to the Church
Street design element.
EXHIBIT 11
July 11, 2024
Mr. Ryan Safty Community Development Department Town of Los Gatos 110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95031
RE: 143 + 151 East Main Street
Dear Ryan:
I reviewed the new drawings in the context of its immediate neighborhood. My comments and
recommendations are as follows:
NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT
The site is located on East Main Street close to the Town Hall and Library. Other nearby uses are a mix of
commercial, institutional and residential uses. Photographs of the site and surrounding context are shown on
the following page.
8/30/24 See response to comments in blue
143 + 151 East Main Street
Design Review Comments
July 11, 2024 Page 2
Commercial Building immediately to the left THE SITE
Church immediately across Church Street High School immediately across High School Court
143 + 151 East Main Street
Design Review Comments
July 11, 2024 Page 3
Hotel Los Gatos across East Main Street Landscaped High School lawn immediately across High School Court
Nearby multifamily residential across East Main Street Nearby commercial building on East Main Street
Nearby church across East Main Street Nearby commercial building on East Main Street
143 + 151 East Main Street
Design Review Comments
July 11, 2024 Page 4
PROPOSED PROJECT
PROPOSED FRONT ELEVATION
PROPOSED REAR ELEVATION
PROPOSED WEST SIDE ELEVATION
PROPOSED FRONT FACADE
PROPOSED REAR FACADE
143 + 151 East Main Street
Design Review Comments
July 11, 2024 Page 5
ISSUES AND CONCERNS
The proposed building is much taller than the preponderance of structures in the site’s immediate context,
but the presence of the adjacent high school main building provides some height transition for a taller struc-
ture here. Overall the design is well done but there are a few refinements that I would recommend to enhance
its compatibility with its neighbors.
The following are issues that staff may wish to discuss further with the applicant.
1. The design appears to draw on the traditional formality and details of the adjacent high school structure
with its punched window openings in a solid wall facade and classic architectural details. However, the
main facades of this proposed building are broken up into smaller segments with a strong vertical ap-
pearance which is at odds with the adjacent high school and other nearby buildings.
2. The separation of the facades into elements that are less unified than in traditional architecture also
tends to make the facade overly fragmented and more vertical in its appearance. This carries through
with the two side elevations having a distinctly different appearance than the front and rear facades.
3. The verticality of the facades which draw attention to its substantial scale difference from its surround-
ing context is further emphasized by the four story light colored facade over the main building entry.
143 + 151 East Main Street
Design Review Comments
July 11, 2024 Page 6
4. The central gable roof on the rear facade is a form not found elsewhere on the building and seems out
of place in the overall unity of the design.
There is a small issue with the smaller residential unit entries facing the streets. The entries and stairs are shown graphically different on the floor plan and the elevations. The elevation shows a rather long stretch of concrete steps
along the East Main Street sidewalk frontage. Given the reduced setback requested by the applicant along the frontage, it seems like an emphasis on more landscaping might be appropriate.
5. One issue of unit livability that might be an issue is the relatively deep units in some locations where
some interior living spaces may be further away from a window than normally expected in high quality
housing.
143 + 151 East Main Street
Design Review Comments
July 11, 2024 Page 7
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Maximize the amount of landscaping along the East Main Street frontage. One example of a similar
patio entry along the sidewalk is shown in the photo below.
2. Extend the stone cornice and decorative stone work consistently around all sides of the building.
3. Add brick spandrel infill on the four story tall wall over the primary East Main Street entry to reduce its
vertical emphasis.
Currently reviewing this comment.
Completed. See Sheets A3.0 and A3.1.
We will not be adding this proposed change to the design drawings.
143 + 151 East Main Street
Design Review Comments
July 11, 2024 Page 8
4. Modify the gable roof form on the rear facade to blend in better with the overall building design.
Ryan, 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
We have eliminated this feature. See Sheets A3.0 and A3.1.
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