August 20, 1989
Gerald DeYoung
Ruth And Going
2160 Lundy Ave.
San Jose, CA 95131
Subject: Almaden Winery Site
Dear Mr. DeYoung,
Urban Programmers has been asked by Ruth and Going to comment on the
impact of the proposed development of 159 single family detached
residences upon the historically significant buildings of the former
Almaden Winery. The documents used by Urban Programmers to formulate
the following comments are identified as Exhibit "C", General
Development Plan, Almaden Winery Site, consisting of 6 sheets.
General Description
The winery site is 52.1 gross acres of land that generally slopes
from Blossom Hill Road on the North to the lands of the Santa Clara
Valley Water District that includes the Guadalupe River. The acreage
has been visually divided, almost in half North to South', by a road
lined with olive trees and other mature plantings. The area
identified as containing the buildings and sites of the greatest
historical significance is to the east of the road, while the area
to the west was a large parking lot, the 1976 bottling plant and
vineyards.
While it is
obvious that any development changes the bucolic setting of
vineyards and tree rows, the previous industrial buildings and
industrial functions were apart of the winery and were located on
the land across the road from the area of historic significance
where the 159 residences are proposed.
The building
design shown on sheet 4 of the General Development Plan is a
two-story residence with a maximum height of 28 feet. Then design
shows a one story garage in the front with the two-story massing
behind. The development plan shows a number of interior streets with
one row of buildings along the western side of the street that
divides the site. This row of buildings appears to shield the
remaining development from the view lines of the historically
significant area. The row is divided in the orientation of the
buildings, with the northern 9 buildings facing into the
development, the remaining 18 facing onto the road.
The Visual
Impact of the Proposed Residential Development Upon the Area of
Historic Significance
The visual impact
to the area of historic significance appears from the General
Development Plan to be minimal. There appears to be at least 300
feet and mature trees between the historic winery and the new
development. The northern 9 buildings have a 20 foot rear
setback from the property line and there is a 20 foot wide
planting- open space area that wraps from Blossom Hill Road around
behind these buildings. Planned to have mature trees, possibly the
existing olive trees on the site, this is adjacent to the 52 foot
wide street and creates a visual buffer between the regularity of
the new development and the historic area.
The 18 residences
that face onto the street create the greatest visual impact. There
are three factors that significantly lessen this impact. The first
is the mature planting around the historic buildings that consists
of pepper trees, olive trees and tall hedges. Secondly the land
slopes down toward the river, with the historic buildings at the
higher elevation and the 1976 Administration Building at the lower
level, closest to the new development. A final consideration is that
of street trees or other landscaping that will soften and defuse
the regularity of the new development.
In summary, the
visual impact of the new development upon the historic buildings
appears minimal. It is mitigated, to a great extent, by the distance
of the development from the historic winery, 300-450 feet, mature
trees and landscaping, the sloping of the land and the N/S
orientation of the historic winery building.
Sincerely,
Bonnie Bamburg,
Principal Consultant
