Item 2 - Staff Report and Attachments 1 to 6.155 Hernandez Avenue
PREPARED BY: Ryan Safty
Associate Planner
TOWN OF LOS GATOS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE REPORT
MEETING DATE: 10/22/2025 ITEM NO: 2
DATE: October 17, 2025
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Consider a Request for Approval to Construct Exterior Modifications (Siding
Replacement) on an Existing Pre-1941 Single-Family Residence on Property
Zoned R-1:8. Located at 155 Hernandez Avenue. APN 510-40-152. Request
for Review Application PHST-25-020. Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines,
Section 15301: Existing Facilities. Property Owner: Catherine Nadeau.
Applicant: Marcie Macdonough. Project Planner: Ryan Safty.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider a request for approval to construct exterior modifications (siding replacement) on an
existing pre-1941 single-family residence on property zoned R-1:8, located at 155 Hernandez
Avenue.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1917 (effective year built 1950) per County Assessor’s
Database; 1910s per Anne Bloomfield Survey
2. Town of Los Gatos Historic Status Code: +, historic and intact or worthy of special note
3. Does property have an LHP Overlay? No
4. Is structure in a historic district? N/A
5. If yes, is it a contributor? N/A
6. Findings required? No
7. Considerations required? Yes
BACKGROUND:
The County Assessor indicates that the residence located at 155 Hernandez Avenue was
constructed in 1917, with an effective year built of 1950, which usually reflects significant
alterations or additions occurred after the original construction date. The 1991 Bloomfield
Survey describes the residence as being built in the Colonial Revival style with an estimated
construction date of the 1910s (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 between 1928 and 1956 (Attachment 2).
PAGE 2 OF 4 SUBJECT: 155 Hernandez Avenue/PHST-25-020 DATE: October 17, 2025
On January 22, 2025, the Historic Preservation Committee (Committee) reviewed and approved
a request for exterior alterations to this residence, including raising the height of roof, changing
the roof pitch, and replacing existing windows with new dual-pane fiberglass windows. Any
needed replacement siding was required to match the existing siding. The project plans
approved by the Committee are included as Attachment 3.
In the process of construction, the applicant has returned to the Committee due to concerns
with the existing exterior siding.
DISCUSSION:
In late August, during construction, the applicant contacted Town staff to request an inspection
of the existing exterior siding. Their concerns were related to the deteriorated condition of the
existing wood siding, the lack of a vapor barrier, and fire hardening of the existing residence.
Planning staff and the Building Official visited the property with the contractor and determined
the following:
1. The existing exterior siding is not deteriorated to the point that the Building Official can
approve of the “repair” demolition exemption pursuant to Town Code Section 20.10.020
(copied below), and therefore, further demolition or siding removal would need Committee
approval;
2. The installation of a vapor barrier would require the removal and replacement of the
existing siding, which constitutes demolition unless Committee approval is obtained; and
3. The replacement of wood siding with Hardie board siding is not a kind-for-kind replacement
and therefore requires Committee approval.
On September 18, 2025, the applicant submitted for additional Committee review (Attachment
5). The applicant is requesting that the Committee approve replacement of all existing wood
siding on the residence with Hardie board siding. As noted in Attachment 5, the reason for this
request is to ensure longevity of the existing historic residence. In addition to the deteriorated
condition of the existing wood siding, the applicant desires to ensure the residence is weather
resistant and more fire resistant.
To make the house more weather resistant, a weather-resistant barrier must be installed on
the exterior of the studs, under the existing wood siding. Removing the existing wood siding
and replacing it with the existing wood siding would be challenging due to the condition of the
existing wood siding. The applicant is requesting Hardie board siding as a replacement and feels
that the new Hardie board siding would be consistent with the appearance of the original
materials and that a lay person would be unlikely to discern the difference pursuant to
Residential Design Guideline 4.8.2 (Attachment 6). Pictures of the existing wood, new wood,
and Hardie board siding are shown next to each other in Attachment 5.
PAGE 3 OF 4 SUBJECT: 155 Hernandez Avenue/PHST-25-020 DATE: October 17, 2025
Additionally, the property at 155 Hernandez is located within the Very High Fire Severity Area
and therefore must follow Wildland Urban Interface guidelines and requirements. One option
for compliance with these requirements is installation of non-combustible siding, such as
Hardie board material.
The size and profile of the proposed Hardie board siding would be the same and would be
installed horizontally to match the existing wood siding. The existing wood shingle siding on the
front porch and lower portion of the west elevation would remain (Attachment 5).
Town Code Section 29.10.020 clarifies that demolition of a historic structure means removal of
more than twenty-five percent of the wall(s) facing a public street or fifty percent of all exterior
walls. When approved by the deciding body, the following is exempt from the demolition
definition:
a. Replacement. The exterior wall covering may be removed if the covering is not
original to the structure.
b. Repair. The removal and replacement of in kind non-repairable exterior wall covering
(siding) resulting in no change to its exterior appearance or historic character if approved by
the deciding body.
c. Removal. The removal of an addition(s) that is not part of the original structure and which
has no historic significance, as determined by the Historic Preservation Committee.
Demolition shall be determined by subsections (1) and (2) above for the original structure,
where walls enclosed by additions shall be considered as exterior walls.
Based on the applicant’s description of the existing condition of the residence, it is likely that
exemption (b)-Repair is applicable to this request.
The applicant is seeking a determination from the Committee that the removal and
replacement of the siding is appropriate and therefore exempt from the demolition definition.
Should the Committee find merit in the request, a recommendation would be forwarded to the
Community Development Director. Once approved, Building Permit revisions could be
approved by the Town and the project would not return to the Committee.
FINDINGS AND CONSIDERATIONS:
A. Findings
Sec. 29.10.020. Demolition (historic structures)
All remaining exterior walls must be contiguous and must retain the existing exterior wall
covering. No new exterior wall covering shall be permitted over the existing exterior wall
covering. The following are exempt from this definition:
PAGE 4 OF 4 SUBJECT: 155 Hernandez Avenue/PHST-25-020 DATE: October 17, 2025
b. Repair. The removal and replacement of in kind non-repairable exterior wall
covering (siding) resulting in no change to its exterior appearance or historic
character if approved by the deciding body.
B. 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.
C. Residential Design Guidelines
Section 4.8.2 of the Town’s Residential Design Guidelines offers recommendations for
exterior building materials on historic resources (Attachment 6).
CONCLUSION:
Should the Committee find merit in the request, a recommendation of approval would be
forwarded to the Community Development Director. The proposed work would be completed
with a Building Permit and would not return to the Committee for further review.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 1990 Anne Bloomfield Survey
2. Sanborn Map Exhibit
3. Project Plans
4. Property Pictures
5. Project Description
6. Section 4.8.2, Residential Design Guidelines
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