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San Antonio Center revamp study available for comment

The environmental impacts of redeveloping a large swath of San Antonio Shopping Center have been reviewed and a draft of that study is now available for comment.

The proposal from developer Merlone Geier would redevelop a 16-acre portion of the shopping center at San Antonio Road and El Camino Real, replacing Rite Aid and Sears with 100,000 square feet of additional retail space, including a new Safeway grocery store, several shops, restaurants and large retailers. Mixed-use buildings with 350 apartments are also part of the proposal, along with a long park along the Hetch-Hetchy right of way.

Among the impacts cited in the draft environmental impact report, there are "significant and unavoidable" impacts in regards to air pollution and climate change caused by car traffic and new building construction.

Numerous nearby intersections along San Antonio Road would continue to operate with a "D" level of service rating (just shy of the worst "F" traffic rating) under the proposal. The only significant traffic impact, according to the draft EIR, would be to the Miller Avenue and San Antonio Road intersection, currently rated "F", which would suffer "significant impacts" but could be made "less than significant" by prohibiting left turns onto Miller Avenue from San Antonio Road.

For a closer look at the 312-page report, a PDF file can be downloaded on the city's website at tinyurl.com/SACstudy.

Comments on the draft EIR can be made until Jan. 14, addressed to Mountain View senior planner Scott Plambaeck or e-mailed to Scott.Plambaeck@mountainview.gov.

-Daniel DeBolt