A month after the San Jose City Council approved the redevelopment of the El Paseo de Saratoga shopping center — a project that includes nearly 1,000 units of housing — a group of residents has filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging it violated a state law that requires agencies to identify and mitigate environmental impacts.
The natural foods grocery giant is just one component of the massive redevelopment, which will reimagine two parcels of land along Saratoga Avenue, Lawrence Expressway and Quito Road on the city’s western edge. Building heights are expected to reach 99 to 132 feet, or nine to 12 stories, and there will be 3½ acres of open space, including a 1.1-acre park.
“At least one organization submitted expert opinion documenting that the air quality and public health impacts from a Whole Foods grocery store will far exceed the impacts disclosed and evaluated in the draft and final , which assumed only generic, non-grocery commercial uses,” the lawsuit said.