Attachment 1 Exhibit 8DIG
CANNON
t DESIGN
(GROUP
November 13, 2014
Ms. Jennifer Savage
Community Development Department
Town of Los Gatos
110 E. Main Street
Los Gatos, Cif 95031
RE: 240 F1 Cajon Way
Dear Jennifer:
ARCHITECTURE PLANNING URBAN DESIGN
RECEIVED
NOV 13 2014
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
I reviewed the drawings, visited the site, and provided the project review letter in July of this year. My comments and
recommendations for the revisisions made to the design following that review are as follows:
Neighborhood Context
The site is located in an established neighborhood with a predominance of small single story homes in closest proximity
to this site.
Photographs of the neighborhood are shown on the following page.
700 LARKSPUR LANDING CIRCLE. SUITE 199. LARKSPUR. CA. 94939
3/11/15 PC Staff Rpt
240 EI Cajon Way
Design Review COmmenib
November 13.2014 Page 2
house on the site
,w,n pr} I q 14JVOT
Existing house to the immediate ngnt
Nearby house to the left
CANNON DESIGN GROUP 700 LARKSPUR LANDING CIRCLE . SUITE 199 . LARKSPUR . CA .94939
240 FJ Cajon Way
Design Review Comments
November 13, 2014 Page 3
Concerns and Issues
The initial design from earlier this year had two significant issues. It was much taller than the homes in the immediate
neighborhood with higher first floor cave lines, high floor to ceiling heights, and an elevated first floor level relative to
grade. It also had a very tall stairwell wall on the front elevation. These conditions are illustrated on the
from the previous review letter. diagrams below
two -story stair element makes fitting
into one•story neighborhood mor difficult
out of scale with the
is
s
The new design is much improved with lower eave and roof ridge heights, and a stair fully contained within the roof
form, as shown on the new proposed front elevation below.
However, it will still be taller and larger than the other homes nearby - see the streetscape drawings below.
"` ""` "' "...PC PROPOSED PROJECT
Opposite side streetscape
CANNON DESIGN GROUP 700 LARKSPUR LANDING CIRCLE . SUITE 199 . LARKSPUR . CA. 94939
240 El Cajon Way
Design Review C onnenu
November 13.2014 Page 4
Sbould staff and the planning Commission decide that the overall size of the house is acceptable in this neighborhood,
there are a few specific issues that need further discussion.
1. From a functional standpoint, the closet in the central dormer bedroom on the second floor will be largely unusable
because of its location under the main sloping roof, as identified on the plan, section and elevation diagrams below
w ceiling
Bedroom
2. In my July review letter, I suggested a couple of possible approaches. The applicant has chosen the one with second
floor dormers rather than their original approach of a shed dormer. Unfortunately, I don't think that is working
very well here. The dormer roof slopes are different from the entry porch roof, and the relationship between the
dormers' locations and the design elements on the first floor, including the entry are very awkward. My concern is
that the three separate dormers will draw a great deal of attention to themselves.
Dormer roof slopes are different than entry roof
e. ,4 .niafinnchins to first floor elements are awkward
There are two possible approaches to a second floor in a neighborhood like this. They are shown in the two photo-
„«,nha helow.
CANNON DESIGN GROUP 700 LARKSPUR LANDING CIRCLE . SUITE 199 . LARKSPUR . CA . 94939
240 El Cajon Way
Design Review Commenrs
Novemher 14. 2016 N-9
Recommendation: In looking at these two approaches in relation to the issues identified above, my feeling is that the
shed dormer approach would allow the most flexibility in the second floor layout and window locations while sim-
plifying the design to avoid drawing attention to isolated second floor forms. This is shown on the front elevation
below.
3.11ere appears to be an inconsistency between the second floor plan and the rear elevation regarding the location of
the second floor windows above the Family Room, as shown on the diagram below
Floor I
rear e
do nt
Recommendation: Modify the elevation or floor plan to dearly indicate the intended design.
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
CANNON DESIGN GROUP 700 LARKSPUR LANDING CIRCLE . SUITE 199. LARKSPUR . CA. 94939
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