Staff Report and Attachments 1 to 7. 68 Broadway
PREPARED BY: Samina Merchant
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: 06/25/2025 ITEM NO: 5
DATE: June 20, 2025
TO: Historic Preservation Committee (HPC)
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Consider a Request for Approval to Construct Exterior Alterations to an
Existing Contributing Single-Family Residence in the Broadway Historic
District on Property Zoned R-1D:LHP. Located at 68 Broadway. APN 510-45-
085. Request for Review HS-25-031. Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines,
Section 15301: Existing Facilities. Property Owner/Applicant: Marc
Dubresson. Project Planner: Samina Merchant.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider a request for approval to construct exterior alterations to an existing contributing
single-family residence in the Broadway Historic District on property zoned R-1D:LHP located at
68 Broadway.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1935 per County Assessor; 1920s per Anne Bloomfield
Survey
2. Bloomfield Preliminary Rating: + Historic and intact or worthy of special note
3. Does property have an LHP Overlay? Yes
4. Is structure in a historic district? Yes, Broadway Historic District
5. If yes, is it a contributor? Yes
6. Findings required? No
7. Considerations required? Yes
BACKGROUND:
The Santa Clara County Assessor’s Database lists a construction date of 1935 for the existing
residence. The 1990 Anne Bloomfield Survey describes the residence as being built in the
‘Hansel & Gretel’ style with an estimated construction date of the 1920s (Attachment 1). The
Bloomfield Survey rates the residence as historic and intact or worthy of special note. The
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps show that the footprint of the residence remained consistent
PAGE 2 OF 4 SUBJECT: 68 Broadway/ HS-25-031 DATE: June 20, 2025
between 1928 and 1956 (Attachment 2). The applicant submitted documents based on their
findings from the research worksheet, which are included in Attachment 3.
The following is a summary of the Town Records in Attachment 4:
1. 1984: M-84-22 – Subdivision and Lot Line Adjustment resulting in four separate lots seen
today as 72 & 68 Broadway and 305 & 307 W Main Street;
2. 1988: S-88-22 – Living area expansion on right side;
3. 1989 – Earthquake damage repairs included remodeling the home with a larger kitchen,
master suite, traditional staircase, reuse of fallen brick for patio and walkways, a new pool,
and cellar;
4. 1992 - HPC approval to construct a carport; and
5. 2011: HS-11-035 - HPC approved renovations to the front elevation to remove an existing
door and replace it with a window to match the existing.
DISCUSSION:
The applicant submitted project plans and photos of the existing residence showing a proposal
to remodel a portion of the first-floor area within the existing building footprint (Attachment 7).
The exterior alterations include replacing the existing aluminum sliding door on the rear
elevation with a new 16-foot-wide folding door system (see Sheet D.2), featuring an interior
wood finish and exterior aluminum cladding. The exterior finish would be powder-coated in a
brown color to match the existing trellis at the rear patio (photo reference on Sheet D.1). On
the northwest (left side) elevation, two existing windows would be removed and replaced with
one new wood window to match the existing windows in style and color (Sheet D.1). All trim
would match the original style and the existing stucco siding and horizontal brick veneer would
remain in place.
CONCLUSION:
The applicant is requesting approval to construct exterior alterations to an existing contributing
single-family residence in the Broadway Historic District on property zoned R-1D:LHP. Should
the Committee find merit in the request, a recommendation of approval would be forwarded to
the Community Development Director. The application would continue through the Building
Permit process and would not return to the Committee.
PAGE 3 OF 4 SUBJECT: 68 Broadway/ HS-25-031 DATE: June 20, 2025
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:
__X__ 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.
Sections 4.8.3 & 4.8.4 of the Town’s Residential Design Guidelines offer recommendations
relative to windows and doors located in Historic Districts and/or on historic properties
(Attachment 6).
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 1990 Anne Bloomfield Survey
2. Sanborn Fire Maps
3. Applicant’s Research
4. Town Planning & Building Records
5. Existing Exterior Elevation Photo
6. Section 4.8.3 & 4.8.4, Residential Design Guidelines
7. Proposed Plans
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ATTACHMENT 1
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1908ATTACHMENT 2
1928
1928-1944
ATTACHMENT 3
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1956
ATTACHMENT 4
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Source: Redfin. (n.d.). Photo of residential property located at 68 Broadway, Los Gatos, CA [Image]. Redfin. Retrieved June 11, 2025, from https://www.redfin.com/ATTACHMENT 5
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Residential Design Guidelines48
Town of Los Gatos
HISTORIC RESOURCES4
•New materials should identically match original materials
in shape, size, dimension, texture and pattern. Metal used
as flashing, screening, gutters, and utility services and other
traditional elements are acceptable.
•Composite, synthetic, metal, vinyl, plastic or fabricated/
imitation wood products, painted brick or imitation used
brick will generally not be approved. However, some ex-
ceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis when the
decision making body determines that the replacement is
consistent with the appearance of the original material, and
that a lay person would be unlikely to discern the difference.
The burden of proof will reside with the applicant. Mate-
rial samples, photographs and specific locations where the
material may be seen in use will all assist in the evaluation
of alternative materials.
•The decision making body may approve an acceptable alter-
native to the original building material if use of the original
material is not feasible due to unreasonable cost and com-
mercial availability, or health and safety considerations.
4.8.3 Doors
•Original doors should be retained and restored.
•New replacement doors for Victorians should not be flush,
but of raised or flat panel design.
•Front doors generally should be painted, not stained.
Not applicable to Mission Revival/Mediterranean style structures.
•Screened doors should be real wood framed of simple de-
sign unless patterns can be shown to fit the existing style.
4.8.4 Windows and Glass in doors
•Original windows, glass and window decorations should be
retained and restored.
•Replacement of only the deteriorated portions of the win-
dows is recommended rather than the replacement of the
entire window.
•New or replacement windows should be wood-sashed and
muntined if applicable.
•Sills, lintels, frames, sashes, muntins, and all decorations
should be identically replaced.
•All elements of new windows should be identical in size,
shape, proportion, and dimensions as the original windows
of the building, or consistent with traditional sizes, propor-
tions and dimensions of buildings of the same architectural
style, design and era.
•Windows should be constructed of real glass, and window
Simulated divided lite windows may be considered on a case-by-case basis
True divided lite windows are encouraged when appropriate to the original structure
Original doors and windows should be
retained and repaired
ATTACHMENT 6
Residential Design Guidelines 49
Town of Los Gatos HISTORIC RESOURCES4
frames should be constructed of real wood - not vinyl,
metal or plastic. Wood sashes may be vinyl or metal clad if
the window frame and dressing is designed consistent with
the historic context of the building.
• All lites (panes of glass) should be true divided lite, not
artificial or snap-in grids. Simulated Divided Lite windows
are permitted when the details of the window provide
projecting muntin elements on the exterior and interior of
the window along with a spacer muntin between the panes
of glass (See example to the left).
• New arched, angled, and/or octagonal windows are discour-
aged.
• Large expanses of blank exterior walls without windows
are discouraged.
4.8.5 Bay Windows
• Size, shape, proportion, dimension, type of foundation, and,
roof material and style of bay windows, whether restored
or of new construction, should be identical to the original
or existing bay windows of the structure.
• New bay windows may be added to the building in loca-
tions where no bay windows previously existed. These new
bay windows should be identical to and replicate the style,
design, size, shape and proportion, type of foundation and
roof of other bay windows existing on structure. If there are
no existing bay windows on the structure, new bay windows
should be built in the same size, shape, dimension, propor-
tions, material and type of foundation and roof typical of
the architectural style. Metal frame kitchen garden windows
are prohibited.
• Generally, traditional architectural styles will require either a
foundation to the ground or substantial supporting brackets
below a bay window. Floating windows without support, as
shown for the bow bay window example to the right, are
rarely appropriate.
• New bay windows are permitted only when the applicant
proves to the Deciding Body that they are consistent with
existing style, design and character of the structure.
4.8.6 Chimneys
• Wood-framed chimneys are prohibited unless their exteri-
ors are covered with brick or river rock veneers. Masonry
veneers may be used. However, they should be detailed
exactly as the solid construction that they are emulating.
• Stucco Mission Revival or Mediterranean style houses may
have stucco covered chimneys.
Match bay windows to the architectural style
of the house
Some window styles, such as this bow bay window, would have very limited applicability for use on a historic resource structure
Wood clad chimneys are prohibited
Masonry and stucco chimneys are
preferred
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