Staff Report.446 San Benito Ave
PREPARED BY: Maria Chavarin
Assistant 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: 09/24/2025
ITEM NO: 4
DATE: September 19, 2025
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Consider a Preliminary Review of a Request to Construct a New Second-Story
Addition and Exterior Alterations to an Existing Pre-1941 Single-Family
Residence on Property Zoned R-1D. Located at 446 San Benito Avenue. APN
410-16-051. Request for Review Application PHST-25-015. Exempt Pursuant
to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301: Existing Facilities. Property
Owner/Applicant: Devendra Deshwal. Project Planner: Maria Chavarin.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider a preliminary review of a request to construct a new second-story addition and
exterior alterations to an existing pre-1941 single-family residence located at 446 San Benito
Avenue.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1905 per County Assessor’s Database; 1920s per Anne
Bloomfield Survey
2. Bloomfield Preliminary Rating: “✓” or historic and some altered
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? N/A
7. Considerations required? Yes
BACKGROUND:
The County Assessor indicates that the residence located at 446 San Benito Avenue was
constructed in 1905 and the 1991 Bloomfield Survey estimates the construction date as the
1920s (Attachment 1). The building footprint shown on the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps is
consistent between 1928 and 1944 (Attachment 1).
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SUBJECT: 446 San Benito Avenue/PHST-25-015
DATE: September 19, 2025
The 1991 Anne Bloomfield Survey rates the residence as historic and some altered (Attachment
1), making note of alterations to the porch and some windows. A review of Town permit
records provides the following permit history:
• 2004 – Electrical Permit;
• 2010 – Building Permit – front porch and roof eaves repairs; and
• 2015 – Building Permit – re-roof.
The applicant provided documentation suggesting an unpermitted addition was made to the
original structure at the right rear portion of the residence (Attachment 1). The applicant also
provided plans for the existing house showing the existing floor area at 889 square feet, while
the County Assessor reports the residence as being 685 square feet. Town records do not
include any permits for an addition to the residence; however, the portion of the residence in
question is included in the building footprint shown in the 1928 and 1944 Sanborn Fire
Insurance Maps. It is unclear whether this portion of the residence is unpermitted, was simply
constructed at a time when permits were not required, and/or the County Assessor provided an
inaccurate measure of the residence.
DISCUSSION:
The property is located on the east side of San Benito Avenue, between Andrews Street and Los
Gatos-Saratoga Road. The applicant is requesting a preliminary review of their project to
construct a new second-story addition and exterior alterations to an existing pre-1941 single-
family residence.
The applicant proposes additions to the first floor, a new second-story addition, and other
exterior alterations (Attachment 4). The first-floor addition would be located on the to the rear
and left side of the existing residence accommodating new living area and a new two-car
garage. The proposed second-story addition would be located toward the rear of the expanded
residence, expanding the living area and providing a new second-story deck. Exterior alterations
include relocating the front door and other window changes. The development plans do not
include full details of all the exterior materials included in the project. Based on what is
provided, proposed exterior materials include new wood shingle siding on the front and side
elevations, stucco on the rear elevation, a belly band on the side elevations, vinyl windows and
a new front door.
Staff provides the following points to aid in the Committee’s discussion of the project:
• Appropriateness of the location and scale of the proposed additions (RDG 3.9)
• Appropriateness of the attached garage, apparent aluminum roll-up doors, and proportion
of the garage relative to the front façade of the residence (RDG 4.8.15);
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SUBJECT: 446 San Benito Avenue/PHST-25-015
DATE: September 19, 2025
• Compatibility of the proposed contemporary front door with the architecture of the
existing/expanded residence (RDG 4.8.3);
• Inclusion of vinyl windows, which are discouraged (RDG 4.8.4);
• Appropriateness of stucco siding and its inclusion on only one elevation (RDG 4.8.9, .10, and
.11); and
• Use of the belly band on the side elevations to break up the two-story mass (RDG 3.3.3).
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 the
construction of additions to existing residences (Attachment 3).
CONCLUSION:
The applicant is requesting preliminary review by the Committee of a request to construct a
new second-story addition and exterior alterations to an existing pre-1941 residence located at
446 San Benito Avenue. A new second-story addition, if not triggering a technical demolition,
would be processed under a future Minor Residential Development application. This application
would return to the Committee for a formal recommendation to be forwarded to the
Community Development Director and the application would continue through the Minor
Residential Development process.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Applicant’s Research
2. Project Description
3. Section 3.9, Residential Design Guidelines
4. Development Plans
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