Saratoga News

Former Chevron location to be site of new dry cleaners

Property still undergoing contamination cleanup

Opening in four months

By Michelle Alaimo

Kerfull Dry Cleaners and Launderers has begun construction at 20472 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, three years after plans were approved by Saratoga's Planning Commission. A Chevron service station was previously located on that spot, and Chevron has been cleaning ground contamination for the past nine years as a result of a leaking underground storage container, Santa Clara Valley Water District officials said.

And the process is ongoing. "The case is still open," Michael DiMarco, a representative with the water district, said. "There is still contamination there." DiMarco added that Chevron is responsible for paying all costs of the cleanup.

April Shon, the cleaner's manager and the daughter of owner Joung Kim, said they knew of the leak and that Chevron has been cleaning up the property since it was purchased three years ago.

However, the cause of the three-year construction delay is not clear. Said Shon, "Saratoga is not an easy place to deal with."

James Walgren, the city's community development director, said, however, that the project was approved in 1995 and that the city did not hold up construction. Chevron officials were also unsure of what caused the delay.

Under approved plans, Kerfull Cleaners would blend in with the historical look of downtown Saratoga. Shon said the 4,000-square-foot building will have cedar siding, a front lawn and at least 16 parking spaces in the front. Shon added that 40 percent of their customers at the current Los Gatos Kerfull Cleaners location at 226 E. Main Street come from Saratoga. Although they do not plan to close their Los Gatos operation, the owner of the property has a development proposal before the town of Los Gatos which, if approved, would require the demolition of the cleaners.

Cleanup of fuel and MTBE, a gasoline additive designed to clean the air but destructive to drinking water, will continue throughout construction. Part of the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Oversight Program, which the water district oversees for the Regional Water Quality Control Boards-San Francisco office, is making sure clean up continues and they do not hold up construction on site, DiMarco said.

The water district currently monitors the flow of the contamination and tells Chevron if the company needs to install more monitoring wells. According to last report made to Chevron by Blaine Tech Services on May 19, the contamination plume is "migrating at a northwesterly trend" through Saratoga.

Tom Bauhs, project manager with Chevron, confirmed that cleanup of the site is continuing and said the site was recently regraded for the new construction. Jim Crowley, an engineering unit supervisor for the water district, said Chevron has spent at least $200,000 on the process and that it is not uncommon for cleanup to take more than 10 years.

The new Kerfull Cleaners is scheduled to open within the next four months.

[ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ]