April 15, 2008

Council members approve two key reports

Allow Whole Foods conditional use permit for liquor

By Carol Rosen
Editor

San Jose City Council members unanimously accepted reports on the 2007 community survey and a homicide report given by Police Chief Rob Davis during its regular Tuesday, April 9 meeting.

At its evening meeting, the council members agreed to provide a conditional use permit for liquor and the demolition and construction permits for the new Whole Foods Market, which is planning to open next year at the corner of Almaden Expressway and Blossom Hill Road where Rite Aid was located.

The measure had been deferred from the agenda several times in order for all of the information to become available before approving demolition the 78,409-square-foot old Rite Aid building and making way for construction of the new 122,584-square-foot commercial facility.

Councilmember Nancy Pyle, in whose district the store will be located, was solidly behind the measure, which she said will bring much-needed tax revenue along with new jobs to San Jose. She thanked the city staff that worked on the project to ensure that it went through in a timely manner. The Planning Department has to deny liquor permits in order to allow council members to determine whether to pass it or not.

"Tuesday night the city council approved both the conditional use permit and the demolition and construction permits for the Whole Foods at Blossom Hill and Almaden Expressway."