Exhibit 6 - Consulting Architects ReportNovember 22, 2023
Mr. Ryan Safty
Community Development Department
Town of Los Gatos
110 E. Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95031
RE: 14331 Capri Drive
Dear Ryan:
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 neighborhood of mostly one story traditional homes along with an adjacent
two story ADU unit and one nearby home with a partial second story. Photos of the site and its surrounding
neighborhood are shown on the following page.
EXHIBIT 6
14331 Capri Drive
Design Review Comments
November 22, 2023 Page 2
ADU immediately to the right on Vasona AvenueTHE SITE: Capri Drive Front
House immediately to the left
(Capri Drive)
Nearby house to the right on Vasona Avenue
House to the left on Capri Drive House to the right on Vasona Avenue
House immediately across Vasona Avenue Nearby two story house across Vasona Avenue
14331 Capri Drive
Design Review Comments
November 22, 2023 Page 3
PROPOSED PROJECT
Proposed Front Elevation
Proposed Rear Elevation
Proposed Right Side Elevation
Proposed Left Side Elevation
14331 Capri Drive
Design Review Comments
November 22, 2023 Page 4
ISSUES AND CONCERNS
The proposed house is considerably larger than other homes in the immediate neighborhood with the sole ex-
ception of the immediately adjacent ADU structure on the same parcel. This would not be consistent with the
community expectations of the Town’s Residential Design Guidelines. Specific issues include the following:
14331 Capri Drive
Design Review Comments
November 22, 2023 Page 5
2.3.1 Design two story houses in predominantly one story neighborhoods to blend with the
smaller homes.
Two-story houses may not be appropriate for every neighborhood. For neighborhoods dominated
by one-story homes, an effort should be made to limit the house to one-story in height or to accom-
modated second floor space within the existing roof. If a two-story house is proposed in this type of a
neighborhood, the house shall be designed to blend with the smaller homes.
Some techniques include:
• A combination of one and two story masses.
• Roof segments separating the first and second floor facades
• Porches with eave height similar to adjacent homes.
• Second floor area contained within the roof form.
• Deep recessed entries, porches and windows.
2.3.2 Avoid structures with height and bulk at front and side setback lines which are significantly
greater than those of the adjacent homes
3.2.1 Select an architectural style with sensitivity to the surrounding neighborhood
• Styles with front facade eaves at the first floor level will be easier to adapt to predominantly one story
neighborhoods than styles with two story, unbroken front facades
14331 Capri Drive
Design Review Comments
November 22, 2023 Page 6
3.3.2 Height and bulk at front and side setbacks
• Avoid eave lines and roof ridge lines that are substantially taller than the adjacent houses.
• The design of two story homes constructed adjacent to one story houses should include techniques to
minimize their visual impact and provide transitions in scale.
Some techniques include:
- Step down to one story elements near the side setbacks
- Provide substantial side setbacks for the entire house
- Provide substantial second floor side setbacks
- Use hip roofs at the sides rather than gables
3.3.3 Provide visual relief for two story walls
Some techniques include:
• Belly bands
• Pop outs and bay windows
• Material and color changes
• Chimneys
• Wide overhangs with projecting brackets
• Juliet balconies
• Window boxes and pot shelves
• Landscaped trellises and lattices
3.6.2 Design home entries with sensitivity to the architectural style
3.6.3 Design entries with sensitivity to the surrounding neighborhood
• Avoid large and formal entries unless that is the norm for nearby houses. It is often best to start
the design consideration with an entry type (e.g., projecting or under eave porch) that is similar to
nearby homes.
3.7.1 Arrange windows in patterns and groupings consistent with the architectural style and sur-
rounding neighborhood
• Many architectural styles have individual windows that are grouped into patterns of two, three or
more windows. Be conscious of this fact, and organize the windows to complement the style.
3.7.2 Match window types and proportions to the architectural style and to the surrounding neigh-
borhood
• Select window types to complement the style of the house. Each architectural style generally has
one or two window types that are traditional to the style. Double hung windows, for example, are
common features of Victorian and Craftsman Styles while casement windows are seen frequently in
Mission and Spanish Eclectic styles.
• Most architectural styles feature windows that have either vertical or square proportions. Avoid
horizontal window proportions unless the style (e.g., Modern or Ranch Style) is clearly supportive of
that shape. Horizontal groupings of vertical and square windows are one means of providing visual
balance to a facade design.
• Limit the number of different window types
3.7.4 Design the windows with attention to matching the traditional details of the architectural
style
14331 Capri Drive
Design Review Comments
November 22, 2023 Page 7
RECOMMENDATIONS
Many of the concerns regarding the project’s consistency with the Residential Design Guidelines are the result
of the home’s proposed floor area and building mass compared to many nearby homes. Potential internal floor
area and building mass reductions could involve the elimination or modification in one of the two Master
Bedrooms, the large Theater Room or other interior spaces, but any changes that reduce the floor area should
be the responsibility of the applicant.
The recommendations below focus on smaller changes to simplify the design and improve its compatibility
with its immediate neighborhood.
FRONT ELEVATION: Currently Proposed
FRONT ELEVATION: Recommendation
14331 Capri Drive
Design Review Comments
November 22, 2023 Page 8
RIGHT SIDE ELEVATION: Currently Proposed
LEFT SIDE ELEVATION: Currently Proposed
LEFT SIDE ELEVATION: RECOMMENDED
RIGHT SIDE ELEVATION: Recommendation
14331 Capri Drive
Design Review Comments
November 22, 2023 Page 9
REAR ELEVATION: Currently Proposed
1. Lower the second floor plate height from 10 feet to 9 feet.
2. Simplify the front facade by removing the projecting formal entry.
3. Provide larger windows on the Family Room front facade for more visual variety.
4. Detail the windows to be more consistent with the proposed architectural style. Two options are possible
that are consistent with the style - window frames or frameless windows with deeply recessed windows.
Window sashes should be wide enough to be consistent with the style. Vinyl or metal cladding over
wood are common modern equivalents to traditional wood windows. If trim is used, soften the color
contrast with the house body color.
5. Add projecting trim to visually separate the floors.
6. Add trim at the bottom of the projecting bay on the right side elevation and enlarge the size of the sup-
porting corbels. Exposed roof rafter tails were shown in a very limited area: eliminate them or carry them
consistently around all eaves.
7. Substantially recess the garage door.
8. Change the extended roof overhang at the Master Bedroom on the rear elevation to a hip roof.
9. Add windows to the garage on the rear facade to break up the current blank wall.
REAR ELEVATION: Recommended
14331 Capri Drive
Design Review Comments
November 22, 2023 Page 10
Ryan, let me know if there are any questions or issues that I did not address.
Sincerely,
CANNON DESIGN GROUP
Larry L. Cannon