Item 03 - 16350 Blackberry Hill Rd - Desk Item & Exhibits 11-12TOWN OF LOS GATOS ITEM NO: 3
DESK ITEM PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: August 12, 2015
PREPARED BY :
APPLICATION NO:
LOCATION:
APPLICANT/
CONTACT PERSON:
PROPERTY OWNER:
Jocelyn G. Puga, Assistant Planner
jpuga@losgato sca.gov
Architecture and Site Application S-14-067
16350 Blackberry HiD Road (north of Aztec Ridge Drive)
Malika Junaid
Lily Sarafan and Arnir Ghorbani
APPLICATION SUMMARY: Requesting approval to exceed the maximum floor area and the
maximum building height for an addition to a single-family
residence on property zoned HR-2~. APN 532-26-085.
EXHIBITS: 1-10. Previously received with August 12, 2015 staff report
11 . Letter from the Applicant's architect dated June 10, 2015
12. Letter from the Applicant dated September 5, 2014
REMARKS:
The applicant submitted the attached letters (Exhibit 11 and Exhibit 12) after the staff report was
circulated.
LRP:JGP:sr
N:\DEV\PC REPORTS\2015\Blackberry Hill 16350·d es k.docx
Laurel R. Prevetti
Assistant Town Manager/ Director of
Community Development
June 10111 2015
Town of Los Gatos
Planning Department
110 E . Main St.
Los Gatos, CA 95030
Subject: Sarafan-Ghorbani Residence/16350 Blackberry Hill Rd .
Dear Ms Puga :
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This letter is to describe the purpose of the proposed changes at the existing residence at 16350
Blackberry Hill Rd. The Sarafan-Ghorbani family wishes to modify their home in preparation
for their growing family. They are planning to have children in the near future and hope to
redesign their home in a way that is better suited to the daily functions oftheir family . While the
existing home has ample square footage , it is currently configured in a way that is discordant
with the needs of their growing family ; they wish to have an efficient space for daily living that
is also conducive to easy interaction amongst and connection between the family .
Therefore, the proposed changes include: adding two bedrooms near the existing master
bedroom so they can be in close proximity to their children's bedrooms in the future . They also
wish to add a family room off of the existing kitchen so they can be close to their children 's '
daily activities and readily available to them even when they are involved in their own activities.
Due to the configuration of the home we are adding mostly under the existing roof structure. The
only room that is having a new roof is the family room. The existing roof of the house is
currently set at 28' -9". The new family room has a height of25', which exceeds 18' required by
Town of Los Gatos. The only way we can give a 10' ceiling height in this new room , maintain
the floor levels and keep the architecture consistent externally is to maintain a minimum 25'
height. We, as the architects, have looked at different scenarios to reduce the height but we have
realized that lowering the roof more then 25 ' will greatly affect the existing architecture and
building lines . We have held the new addition back from the existing house line by a few feet
just for the purpose of blending in and creating the new addition as if it was part of the original
home. Even though the two roof heights are not the same, we believe we have managed to
address the height issue with an elegant architectural roofline.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------4546 EL Camino Rea l Suite 223 • Los Altos .CA.94022 • 650.565.9036 • (f) 949.625 .7869 •
www.mdesignsarchitects.com
Where the findings are concerned we believe the project meets all the findings:
1) The Design theme , scale, materials and details are all consistent with: -
a. The applicable landmark and hi s toric preservation zone
b . Specific plan
c. Residential development
2) The lot coverage, setbacks and FAR of the proposed project is compatible with the
development on surrounding lots .
The Sarafan-Ghorbani family believes these changes will greatly affect their family in a positive
way. They are open for recommendation from the commission to add landscaping if necessary.
We hope that the commission can see the benefit of this project and will approve this so that the
homeowners can proceed forward with their future planning.
You may feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Malika Junaid
Architect
( 408) 431-9289
·--------·-----------·
4546 EL Camino Real Suite 223 • Los Altos .CA.94022 • 650.565.9036 ·(f) 949 .625.7869 •
www .mdesignsarchitects.com
September 5, 2014
Dear Sir or Madam:
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration of our proposed changes to our residence
located at 16350 Blackberry Hill Road. My husband and I have lived in Los Gatos for more than
seven years and moved from our previous home on Bicknell Road to our new home a year ago in
September 2013. Since that time, we have been considering how to tum this house into a home
that will suit our plans to start a family.
The existing home has ample living space but is configured in such a way that it does not
naturally accommodate fluidity or connection within the home. For instance, there is a Master
bedroom upstairs and three other bedrooms downstairs that are not easily accessible from the
upstairs bedroom. Our proposed changes include the addition of two bedrooms adjacent to the
Master to alleviate this issue and prepare for the arrival of children in the near future.
Additionally, the current family room is the furthest room on the main floor from the kitchen.
Having lived only in homes where the family room was adjacent to the kitchen, we can sense the
discord and lack of unity in our home when we have family and friends over and can project
experiencing the same sense of disconnection during a future time in which there are young
children present. Therefore, we are proposing building a family room directly adjacent to the
kitchen. The remaining updates primarily serve to bring a sense of warmth and light into the
home; with its cold and dark tile floors , narrow entrance to the kitchen and enclosed stairs to
access the bottom floor, the house is not as bright and inviting as would reflect our taste and
preferences.
We believe the changes we are proposing would greatly improve the functionality and aesthetic
of our home in countless, positive ways. We look forward to establishing our permanent
residence here on Blackberry Hill with your support and appreciate your consideration of our
plans.
You may feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions.
Lily Sarafan -Los Gatos CSSC Commissioner
Amir Ghorbani, DDS
16350 Blackberry Hill Road
Los Gatos, CA 95030
S tanford 2 00 3 @gmai 1. com
(650) 380-4585
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