Item 2 - Exhibit 05 - Consulting Architect’s First Report, dated May 24, 2019May 24, 2019
Ms. Jennifer Armer
Community Development Department
Town of Los Gatos
110 E. Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95031
RE: 15 Loma Alta Avenue
Dear Jennifer:
I reviewed the drawings, and evaluated the site context. My comments and recommendations are as follows:
Neighborhood Context
The site is narrow and very deep compared to its street frontage. It is a corner lot by virtue of the adjacent alley. Neigh-
boring homes are a variety of one and two-stories in height. All are traditional in architectural style, form and details. The
site is shown on the aerial photo below, and photos of the site and its surroundings are on the following page.
EXHIBIT 5
15 Loma Alta Avenue
Design Review Comments
May 24, 2019 Page 2
The Site and Existing Building House immediately across Loma Alta Avenue
House to the immediate Left across Panighetti Place
Nearby House to the Right
Nearby House across Loma Alta Avenue
House to the immediate Right
Nearby House to the Right
Nearby House across Loma Alta Avenue
15 Loma Alta Avenue
Design Review Comments
May 24, 2019 Page 3
Issues and Concerns
The proposed house is modest in size, and consistent with the scale of other nearby homes in the area.
However, there are some issues relating to the Town’s Residential Design Guidelines regarding compatibility with the im-
mediate neighborhood.
1. The proposed house would have a substantial amount of its taller masses composed of continuous metal wall and
roof panels - see photo examples below,
Reconciling this roof and wall material approach with the Town’ Residential Design Guidelines may be difficult
given the strongly traditional forms, styles and details of nearby homes and the Town’s strong emphasis on neigh-
borhood compatibility.
2. The flat roof element at the Living Room is not well integrated with the reminder of the house which is more simi-
lar in form to nearby homes.
3. The tall walls on the right side elevation would not be consistent with Residential Design Guideline 3.3.3.
3.3.3 Provide visual relief for two story walls
Some techniques include:
• Belly bands (see photo below left)
• Pop outs and bay windows
• Material and color changes
• Chimneys
• Wide overhangs with projecting brackets
• Juliet balconies (see photo below left)
• Window boxes and pot shelves
• Landscaped trellises and lattices
COMMENTS: RIGHT SIDE ELEVATION
EXAMPLES: Continuous metal roof and wall panels
15 Loma Alta Avenue
Design Review Comments
May 24, 2019 Page 4
4. Asymmetrical eave lines on the left side elevations may be an issue.
5. The projecting second floor windows on the front elevation may be a problem, and need further study as the design
progresses. While they might seem acceptable for the proposed metal wall and roof elements, they may not work
with more traditional design and single family detailing.
6. The supports for the awnings seem too large for the house.
7. The tall glass wall in the flat-toped building form might create some light spill problem.
8. The large amount of paving in the setback along
Panighetti Place would not be consistent with Resi-
dential Design Guideline 2.4.5.
2.4.5 Mitigate the impact of driveways on the
streetscape
• Limit the width of curb cuts to the minimum
size needed to access the garage. This will reduce the
amount of paving
in the front setback, and preserve on-street parking
spaces.
• Utilize modular paving materials or special pat-
terns or colors to break up paved driveway areas in front setbacks.
COMMENTS: FRONT ELEVATION
COMMENTS: REAR ELEVATION
COMMENTS: LEFT SIDE ELEVATION
COMMENTS: SITE PLAN
15 Loma Alta Avenue
Design Review Comments
May 24, 2019 Page 5
Recommendations
1. Add roof eaves and projections at the gable ends
2. As noted in the Issues and Concerns, the use of metal roofing and siding may be difficult to reconcile with a strict
interpretation of the Town’s Residential Design Guidelines which place a strong emphasis on neighborhood com-
patibility regarding building styles, forms, materials and details. There is one metal roof in the immediate neighbor-
hood, but no metal used for siding.
Over recent months, we have been seeing a trend toward more Contemporary expressions of traditional home
styles. Metal roofing is perhaps the most frequently seen proposal. These proposals have been addressed by staff on
a case-by-case basis in the context of the specific neighborhood. Because the forms and scale of the proposed house
are very well related to other homes in the immediate neighborhood, this seems like occasion where staff might have
greater flexibility in the accommodation of alternative materials. I would recommend in any roof/wall condition
that roof eaves and projections be included as noted in Recommendation #1 above. That given, other reasonable
options might include the following:
a) Consider eliminating the metal roof and wall panels in favor of more traditional materials drawn from the
immediate adjacent neighborhood (e.g., Composition roofing and wood or stucco siding).
b) Use different colors for the metal roof and wall panels - see photo example below.
c) Use a metal roof with a combination of stucco and board and batten wood siding - see photo example below.
15 Loma Alta Avenue
Design Review Comments
May 24, 2019 Page 6
3. Revise the right side elevation of the house by addressing the tall blank walls to be consistent with Residential
Design Guideline 3.3.3. Revisions should include a better integration of the Living Room mass with the rest of the
design. Options might include emphasize glazing at the Living Room and Stair and/or eliminating the flat roof and
better integrating the Living Room into the overall design by adding a sloped roof over the Living Room - illustra-
tive diagrams of two approaches are shown below.
4. Consider adding a trellis light screen at the second level of the Living Room - see photo example below.
RECOMMENDATIONS: RIGHT SIDE ELEVATION
15 Loma Alta Avenue
Design Review Comments
May 24, 2019 Page 7
5. Deep set garage door.
6. Select windows to match the wall materials. Use wood windows or clad wood windows to achieve the traditional
scale of wider window jambs for wood or stucco siding. High quality metal windows would be acceptable for use
with metal siding.
7. Add landscaping to break up paving along Panighetti Place, and use permeable paving - see photo examples below.
Jennifer, please let me know if you have any questions, or if there are other issues that I did not address.
Sincerely,
CANNON DESIGN GROUP
Larry L. Cannon
RECOMMENDATIONS: SITE PLAN
RECOMMENDATIONS: LEFT SIDE ELEVATION
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