However, about 10 people showed up to speak at public hearings and watch the proceedings at the Feb. 22 meeting of the planning commission.

The city of Saratoga has struggled to attract new businesses to the Village while at the same time maintain the unique character of the downtown. Starbucks Coffee faced intense and organized opposition during its attempt to open at the head of the Village last year. The city council approved the Starbucks application last summer after a split vote by the planning commission. Glasauer is now attempting to open a Subway next door to Starbucks, which opened for business on Nov. 23.

Concerns raised by planning commissioners during a Feb. 21 site visit prompted Glasauer to request a continuance on her permit application. The planning commission was scheduled to vote on the permit on Feb. 22, but instead voted to approve the continuance.

Bill Cooper, owner of Bella Saratoga, spoke at the meeting during public hearings. "We're getting a continual dilution of what we already have and not getting anything new into our Village," he said. "I hate seeing our small local businesses that have built Saratoga hurt by this continual dilution."

Chris Oakes, president of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber had conducted a poll of businesses on Big Basin Way concerning Subway. She said four businesses were in favor of Subway coming to town, 18 were against, eight were neutral and 16 businesses had not yet replied. Of the 18 against, nine were strongly opposed to Subway.

Approximately 18 locations currently sell deli sandwiches in the Village. Commissioner Jill Hunter said she would like to see an accurate count and a list of the stores that sell sandwiches on Big Basin Way before the March 8 vote.

Glasauer, who lives in Saratoga, said she is trying to address concerns raised by planning commissioners about her store. "There are issues with the signage," she said. "We cannot change the logo itself. The color, we cannot change it, but we can make the materials out of wood. I'm more than happy to do that. We have to discuss what is best for our brand and what's best for Saratoga. I want to fit in with the city's ambience."

Glasauer currently owns two Subway stores and two Baskin-Robbins stores in Los Gatos and Santa Clara. She said she had tried to bring a Baskin-Robbins to the Village a few years ago, but a marketing team rejected the idea because of a lack of foot traffic downtown. She said she hopes the city of Saratoga will take advantage of a brand name such as Subway that is willing to take a risk and invest in the Village.

Glasauer said that increased competition for other businesses selling sandwiches in the Village should not be a reason to reject her application. "I have a right to get in and have equal opportunity. Let's compete on quality of product, ambience and customer service. Let's compete on that and not by exclusion. Let the customers decide, not have the merchants dictate."

Commissioner Linda Rodgers said the planning commission would consider a variety of factors when it votes on March 8. "We're all working on it, thinking about it, reviewing the ordinances and the General Plan and looking at other communities. We take into consideration the views of the community as we hear them at the hearings and through emails and letters submitted to our planning department. We encourage people to send their comments."