Los Altos neighbors are trying to save a 1924 English cottage. A Saratoga developer wants to demolish the house and build three 35-foot-high houses, with 6- and 8-foot side yard setbacks, on the three-lot, .44-acre parcel.
Next Tuesday, the Santa Clara County Supervisors will consider the unanimous recommendation from the Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Commission that this cottage, in an unincorporated corner of Los Altos on Winding Way, be added to the county's historic inventory.
"One by one these historic houses are going because our laws and regulatory boards don't stand up to developers," said Los Altos resident Nancy Mason, who is a member of the county historical commission.
But putting a property on the historic inventory does not automatically save it. "What we're into is public review," said Paul Bernal, chairman of the county historical commission, "so there are no hasty decisions."
If the supervisors do designate the house for the historic inventory, then, in the future, the designation "signals the planning department to route it to us," should any permit request come through - for demolition, remodeling, moving the house.
The commission then makes a recommendation to the planning department, "which has the final call. It could be appealed to the supervisors," Bernal said.
Before making a recommendation for a house that is already on the historic inventory, the commissioners consider factors such as "if the house is irreplaceable, if it is integral to the history of a neighborhood to tell a story to future generations," Bernal said.
In the case of this English cottage, the first the neighbors knew the house had been sold was April 1 when those within 300 feet of it received a notice of a grading permit, "for the driveways and house pads for the three proposed residences." The notice came from a county land development engineer.
The neighbors were horrified. Most have lived near the cottage from 30 to 50-plus years. They always imagined someone would buy and restore the house. "The house defines the neighborhood," said Joyce Murphy. "Its character is unique."
The county supervisors will be considering this item at their meeting next Tuesday in the supervisors' chambers, 70 West Hedding St., San Jose. For more information, call (408) 299-4321.