Attach 3 contCDG
CANNON
DESIGN
GROT
January 8, 2007
Mr. Joel Paulson
Community Development Department
Town of Los Gatos
110 E. Main Street
P.O. Box 949
Los Gatos, CA 95031
RE: 339 -341 Bella Vista Avenue
ARCHITECTURE PLANNING URBAN DESIGN
Dear Joel:
I reviewed the drawings, and visited the site. My comments and recommendations are as follows:
Neighborhood Context
Bella Vista Avenue is a relatively narrow street with flat lots on the north side and downslope lots on the south.
Homes vary in terms of size and formality, but overall the neighborhood has a generally informal character with
substantial distance between adjacent homes. Photographs of the area around this site are shown below.
TEL: 415.331.3795 FAX: 415.331.3797
180 HARBOR DRIVE. SUITE 219. SAUSALITO . CA 94965
EMAIL: cdgplan @pacbell.net
EXHIBIT q
View west on Bella Vista Avenue
View west on Bella Vista Avenue with houses on
north side of street
Existing house on south side of Bella Vista
Avenue
View south down slope from Bella Vista Avenue
339 and 341 Bella Vista Avenue
Design Review Comments
January 8, 2007 Page 2
Concerns and Recommendations
1. The two houses are very well designed, with good materials and interesting details that are consistent with their
architectural styles. While the floor plans are essentially the same for both houses, their exterior appearance is quite
successful in giving each its own unique identity. There are only a couple of issues for which I have a comment and
recommendation.
CANNON DESIGN GROUP 180 HARBOR DRIVE. SUITE 219. SAUSALITO . CA 94965
Existing Neighborhood Homes
339 and 341 Bella Vista Avenue
Design Review Comments
January 8, 2007 Page 3
3. The houses will, I believe, be very visible from the residential neighborhood below the sites. The use of stucco
on the lowest level of the two houses seems to give them a sense of being perched on stilts. I would recommend car -
ring the shingle and siding wall material down over these lower floors.
CANNON DESIGN GROUP 180 HARBOR DRIVE. SUITE 219. SAUSALITO . CA 94965
2. The two houses are relatively large and close to the street. While the architectural design of each and their siting
substantially below street level will mitigate their size, the small separation between the two structures seems out of
keeping with the fabric of the neighborhood. I would suggest the addition of some tree landscaping between the two
houses to buffer this view.
339 and 341 Bella Vista Avenue
Design Review Comments
January 8, 2007 Page 4
4. Although I don't think it would
have any significant visual impact on
the streetscape, the residents might
want to be a bit concerned about the
relatively tall retaining walls for the
garage driveways adjacent to the front
entries. Landscaping in that area to
buffer the view or the facing of the
retaining walls with stone or with
shingles or siding to match the house
might be considered.
I
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I
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"°" Significant
exposed
retaining wall
Similar condition
on Lot 1 residenc
Joel, please let me know if you have any questions, or if there are specific issues of concern that I did not address.
Sincerely,
CANNON DESIGN GROUP
Larry Cannon AICP
President
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CANNON DESIGN GROUP 180 HARBOR DRIVE. SUITE 219. SAUSALITO . CA 94965