Item 2 - Exhibit 19 - Applicant's Letter of JustificationDear Commission Members,
In response to Planning Commission’s recommendations during the last meeting,
we are now returning with a revised design that meets all the requirements,
including the LRDA limitations, reduced the required excavation and improved the
massing. The main building is now completely within LRDA. The garage has been
pulled out from the main residence and outside of the LRDA according to Planning
Commission’s suggestion during the last meeting.
The revised design has been dramatically improved from technical perspective.
We decided to remove the large crawl space after careful discussion with our
technical team. The elimination of the crawl space reduced the required
excavation quantity by more than 25%. The main building looks smaller after
removing the bulky staircase in the front, and cutting the building with an angle to
reduce the mass looking. Also, from the garage side, we incorporated Mr.
Cannon’s suggestion of using a natural stone exterior finish all the way to the
drive way, to visually separate the lower mass from the upper wall and make the
mass feel more like a two-story house. On top of all the improvements, the main
building is now completely within LRDA. In addition, following the Planning
Commission’s recommendation, we revised the driveway walls to use poured-in-
place concrete retaining walls with natural looking stone cladding instead of the
previously proposed Allan block walls.
However, even though the revised design incorporates all of the
recommendations of the Planning Commission and HDS&G from a technical
perspective, the qualitative aspect of the home is compromised. Like Mr. Cannon
stated in his review comments, “the first design would be visually superior if the
other changes desired by the Planning Commission could be incorporated.” If we
adopt the recommended changes to the first design, we are still able to remove
the large crawl space to reduce the excavation quantity by more than 25%; to
replace the bulky staircase in the front with a stairs better integrated into the
building to reduce their visibility; and to install a natural stone exterior finish for
the garage side wall to reduce the mass of the lower level.
EXHIBIT 19
RECEIVED
DEC 2 0 2018
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
To clarify, below is a comparison of both designs (underlined text indicates cons):
Revised Design First Design
Main building completely into LRDA 11% out of LRDA (including garage)
Garage pulled out to reduce massing 17% less out of LRDA compared to
but with increased portion outside revised design
LRDA to 28%
Excavation quantity reduced by 26% Same as revised if adopt changes
Integrated front staircase Same as revised if adopt changes
Natural stone finish on garage side Same as revised if adopt changes
to make two story appearance
Only 40 protected trees removed Same as revised if adopt changes
Allan block changed to concreate Same as revised if adopt changes
retaining wall clad in natural-looking
stone
Architecturally comprised Architecturally superior
Too many railing balusters Limited railing balusters
In summary, I would be happy with either design, whichever can be
approved/conditionally approved during this meeting, but prefer the original
design incorporating changes recommended by Mr. Cannon. I sincerely hope one
of the plans will get approved this time as I have spent huge amount of time and
money on this project, and I cannot afford to drag any longer. Thank you very
much from my bottom heart for your understanding!