REPORT TO HISTORICAL AND LANDMARKS COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of a Proposed 146 Square-Foot Second Floor Addition and a 52 Square-Foot Second Floor Deck Addition at 1110 Pierce Street (PLN21-15406) That is Located Within 200 Feet of a Historic Resource.
Report
BACKGROUND
The 6,300 square-foot subject property is located on the south side of Pierce Street, on the corner of Benton Street. It is developed with a two-story 1,410 square foot residence with a 96 square-foot front porch, 57 square-foot rear porch, three-bedrooms, one office, and one bathroom house in the Pioneer and Craftsman architectural style. The property also has an existing 504 square-foot detached garage, a 49 square-foot storage shed, and a 104 square-foot gazebo. The subject property is currently zoned R1-6L - Single-Family Residential with the General Plan Land Use Designation of Very Low Density Residential. The property is not currently listed as a historic resource on the City’s Historic Resource Inventory (HRI); however, it is within 200 feet of a Historic Resource located at 1000 Lincoln Street (Carmelite Monastery). See the attached vicinity map (Attachment 1) for location of the property and the HRI.
The project is before the Historical and Landmarks Commission (HLC) in accordance with the Historic Preservation Ordinance (18.130.070), which requires all projects on properties within 200 feet of an HRI property requiring Architectural Review at a Development Review Hearing first be referred to the HLC for review. The HLC shall review the project for neighborhood compatibility and consistency with the City’s Design Guidelines and make a recommendation to the Development Review Hearing Officer.
DISCUSSION
The project proposes a 146 square-foot second floor addition and a 52 square-foot second floor deck addition to the rear of an existing 448 square-foot second floor residence resulting in an existing 962 square-foot first floor, new 594 square-foot second floor residence with two bedrooms, one office, and two bathrooms. The project proposes to add a bathroom on the second floor resulting in two total bathrooms and to convert an existing room on the second floor to a walk-in closet, reducing the number of bedrooms from three to two bedrooms. The existing residence has non-conforming setbacks, and consistent with Santa Clara City Code Chapter 18.90, can add to the structure since the addition meets the development standards and does not expand the extent of the nonconforming aspect of the structure or result in new nonconforming conditions.
The roof style of the addition matches the gable roof of the existing residence. The addition will be compatible with the character of the main residence. The proposed composition shingle roofing will match and be continuous with the existing composition shingle roof to create compatibility. The project proposes to change the siding from the existing horizontal siding to vertical siding that will be painted white. Except for the siding orientation and color, the front, corner side, and interior side elevations will be maintained as existing.
The proposed project complies with the City’s 2014 Single-Family Design Guidelines. The project minimally alters the front façade and maintains its appearance with the addition located to the rear. Specifically, the project is consistent with the guidelines, in that:
• The proposed second floor meets the step-back guidelines in that second-floor areas are set back at least three feet from the front and ten feet from the interior side elevations.
• The proposed second-floor windows are oriented towards the front and rear.
• The proposed second-floor balcony is oriented towards the rear yard and limited to a maximum depth of four feet.
The project site is located across the street from the southwest portion of the Carmelite Monastery at 1000 Lincoln. The project as proposed would not have a significant adverse visual impact to the integrity of the Historic Resource at 1000 Lincoln Street. The resource is not visible from Benton Street because of extensive vegetation surrounding the structure. Overall, the second-floor rear addition will be compatible with the design of the existing residence and will not have an adverse impact on the Historic Resource.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1- Existing Facilities), in that the project is limited to an addition to a single-family residence.
PUBLIC CONTACT
On August 22, 2024, a notice of public hearing was mailed to property owners within 300 feet of the project site. At the time of preparation of this report, the Planning Division has not received any public comments.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Historical and Landmarks Commission find that the proposed project located at 1110 Pierce Street will not destroy or have a significant adverse effect on the integrity of the HRI listed properties within 200 feet at 1000 Lincoln Street; that the alterations and addition are compatible with the existing structure and surrounding neighborhood and recommend approval to the Development Review Hearing Officer.
Staff
Prepared by: Meha Patel, Assistant Planner
Reviewed by: Sheldon S. Ah Sing, Development Review Officer
Approved by: Lesley Xavier, Planning Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Vicinity Map
2. Development Plans
3. Project Data and Compliance Table