REPORT TO HISTORICAL AND LANDMARKS COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing: Recommendation on the Architectural Review (PLN25-00274) for a 209 Square Foot First Floor Expansion and a 513 Square Foot Second Floor Expansion to an Existing Two-Story Residence Resulting in a 2,336 Square Foot Residence Located at 1640 Market Street within 200 Feet of a Historic Resource Inventory Property. CEQA Status: Exempt from CEQA per Section 15301(e)(1) (Class 1 -- Existing Facilities).
Report
File No.: PLN25-00274
Location: 1640 Market Street, a 7,500 square foot lot, located on the southern side of Market Street mid-block between Isabelle Street and Lincoln Street; APN 269-34-035, R3- Medium Density Residential.
Applicant: Jun Ruan
Owner(s): Denis Crasta
Request: Architectural Review for a 209 Square Foot First Floor Expansion and a 513 Square Foot Second Floor Expansion to an Existing Two-Story Residence Resulting in a 2,336 Square Foot Residence
PROJECT DATA
The Project Data and Compliance Table is included as Attachment 2.
POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION
• The site is surrounded by one- and two-story single-family homes, with several Historic Resource Inventory (HRI) properties. See the Vicinity Map in Attachment 1.
• The site is currently developed with a two-story residence constructed in the 1930s and is not listed on the Historic Resource Inventory (HRI).
• Per the Santa Clara City Code 18.120(D)1. D., the request requires Architectural Review approval through a Development Review Hearing due to the modifications to the second story.
• The project is before the Historical and Landmarks Commission (HLC) in accordance with the Historic Preservation Ordinance (Santa Clara City Code 18.130.070), which requires all projects within 200 feet of a HRI property requiring an Architectural Review through a Development Review Hearing to be first referred to the HLC. The HLC shall review the project for neighborhood compatibility and consistency with the City’s Design Guidelines and make a recommendation.
• The project proposes a 209 square foot first floor expansion and a 513 square foot second floor expansion to an existing two-story residence resulting in a 2,336 square foot residence with three bedrooms and three bathrooms.
• There are seven HRI properties within 200 feet of the subject property, four are in the Queen Anne Cottage style, one in the Craftsman Bungalow Style, one in the Victorian style.
• The applicant also applied for a Variance from the upper-story setback requirements of the R1-6L Zoning District, requesting a three-foot-seven-inch second-floor stepback to match the existing legal nonconforming setback and stepback of the residence where 10 feet is typically required.
• As proposed, the project is consistent with several of the Single-Family Design Guidelines (2014), while certain elements do not fully conform, as described below:
• While the proposed second-story addition does not incorporate the second-floor stepbacks recommended by the Design Guidelines, the design maintains the home’s existing tall gable form and allows for the retention of two-story wall heights in select locations, consistent with the existing architectural character of the residence.
• The appearance of the second story from the street would not appear bulky as the front façade and existing front of the second floor will not be altered.
• All changes to the property are to the rear of the residence, which will retain the original style and the character of the neighborhood.
• If the variance for the second-floor setback is approved, the proposed project would meet the required findings set forth in Santa Clara City Code 18.120.
• There are no active City code enforcement cases for this property
• A neighborhood notice was distributed within a 300-foot radius of the subject site for this project review.
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
Conditions of approval are proposed for the project and are contained in Attachment 3.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(e)(1) (Class 1 -- Existing Facilities), in that the project is a small addition to the existing single-family residence.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Historical and Landmarks Commission agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
A public hearing notice was mailed to 56 property owners within a 300-foot radius of the project site on August 20, 2026. As of the writing of this report, planning staff has not received comments for this application.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommend that the Historical and Landmarks Commission find that the proposed project located at 1640 Market Street will not destroy or have significant adverse effect on the integrity of the HRI listed properties within 200 feet of the subject property; that the proposed construction is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and recommend approval of the Architectural Review to the Planning Commission.
Staff
Prepared by: Rebecca Bustos, Principal Planner, Community Development Department
Approved by: Lesley Xavier, Planning Manager, Community Development Department
ATTACHMENTS
1. Vicinity Map
2. Project Data and Compliance Table
3. Conditions of Approval
4. Development Plans