Las Gatos planning commission continues review of proposed two‑story addition at 193 House Drive to Aug. 26

The Town of Los Gatos Planning Commission on June 15 continued consideration of a proposal to add a second story to a single‑family home at 193 House Drive so the applicant can revise the design to address massing and rear‑elevation concerns.

Staff planner Siri Nathan told the commission the application (Architecture & Site Application S‑26‑007) would add a 364‑square‑foot first‑floor addition and an 876‑square‑foot second‑floor addition to an existing 1,088‑square‑foot single‑story residence on a 6,970‑square‑foot lot zoned R‑18 — a lot size that does not meet the zone’s 8,000‑square‑foot minimum. Staff said the project complies with height, setback, floor‑area and parking standards but was routed to the commission because it could establish the first two‑story house in the immediate neighborhood and the consulting architect’s recommendations had not been fully incorporated.

Designer James Woodard of Sego Designs said the team adjusted window locations and sizing in response to the consulting‑architect review and pointed to several two‑story houses elsewhere in the broader development as precedent. He also said one front tree would be removed with a replacement tree planted, and that immediate neighbors had been notified and — according to the homeowners — raised no objection.

Commissioners focused on three issues: whether the full‑height stucco finish predominates in a neighborhood dominated by wood siding, how to break up the apparent two‑story rear wall to meet Residential Design Guideline 3.3.3, and the overall massing and scale of the proposal. Vice Chair Barnett said the project’s mass and scale were incompatible as submitted and moved to deny; an alternate motion to approve failed on the floor. After reopening the public portion to ask whether the applicant would be willing to revise, the commission modified the pending motion to continue the item so the applicant could return with changes that address the flat rear plane and massing. The commission set a date certain of August 26 and passed the continuance unanimously.

The commission did not make a determination on the merits and did not adopt specific conditions tonight; staff advised that a continuance would allow time for the applicant to work with staff and return with revisions for a future staff report. The applicant said they would be prepared to submit materials in time for the August meeting.

Next steps: the applicant will revise the plans to respond to the commission’s concerns about rear‑elevation massing and exterior materials, submit revised drawings to staff, and return to the Planning Commission on August 26.