The council voted unanimously in favor of a use permit allowing the construction of a single-story, 68,000-square-foot Whole Foods market at the site of the former Anderson Chevrolet on Stevens Creek Boulevard.

Whole Foods will have to conduct an assessment of traffic flow on nearby streets and provide funds for any needed changes as a part of the council's endorsement.

The opportunity to allow a popular business to grow--it will become the natural and organic food market's largest northern California operation--while staying in the community was a part of the project's appeal for the council.

"They have been an excellent community citizen," said new Councilman Orrin Mahoney in voting for the approval. "It's a real win-win for the community to accommodate them as they have gotten bigger."

"It will help us enliven that corner," Councilwoman Dolly Sandoval said of Whole Foods' move to the intersection of Stevens Creek and N. Stelling Road. She also said she was excited about the market's plans for a cooking school and an outdoor cafe.

Except for concern about possible traffic congestion, particularly along Alves Drive behind the site, residents also spoke in favor of the store.

"The current store is too small and the [parking] terrible," said former Cupertino Mayor Barry Chang of Whole Foods' current Cupertino location.

To help alleviate that parking crunch, project officials have proposed including nearly 400 parking spaces.

"We're trying to energize that corner," said Peter Ko, the project's architect who is also a 20-year Cupertino resident.

According to Peter Pau, the site's developer, construction is to begin in May on the building site and building structure. Once that component is completed in about six months, Whole Foods will take over. The goal is to have the project completed in about a year.

"It's going to be pretty spectacular," Pau said.