Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Artist's sketch of the Monte Sereno home of Dennis and Kathy Varni shows the addition will include a classic Victorian tower.

Monte Sereno Council OKs expansion of landmark home

Tower to be added

By Clarence Cromwell

The historic Victorian house at the gateway of Monte Sereno on Highway 9 will get a large addition, including a 37-foot Victorian-style tower, under plans approved by the City Council.

City officials said the expansion is in tune with the style of the Varni house, located at 17940 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road, and will even accentuate the building.

The Varnis are well-known among Monte Sereno officials for their ongoing efforts to preserve the 107-year-old house they bought in 1972. They spent more than 15 years on an extensive renovation of their house and a nearby water tower that concluded in the early 1980s. They carefully preserved the look of the house and many of its original details.

For that project, Dennis Varni scoured old buildings, flea markets and junkyards for authentic Victorian trimmings to add to the house, including doorknobs and hardware.

Kathy Varni decorated the house with Victorian furnishings.

The property and house, once the site of a large almond orchard, were previously owned by the prominent Hamsher family. The house is now listed on Monte Sereno's inventory of historic buildings.

In a letter to the City Council, the Varnis stated that the 3,100-square-foot, 13-room house is no longer big enough for the Varni family.

The Varnis requested four variances from the city to allow the changes to the house. One variance allows for a a carport roof higher than city codes allow, two provide for sideyard setbacks smaller than codes require and one allows the tower, which exceeds the city's 30-foot height limitation.

Inclusion in the historic inventory makes the house eligible for such variances.

The changes were unanimously supported by the council and also were endorsed by two former members of the Heritage Preservation Committee, Sue Anawalt and John Wimer.

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