Mike Francis of Francis Developers bought the property two years ago from a gas-station owner who was planning to rent the site to a car-rental company but instead sold it to Francis.

Francis wants to build a two-story, 6,500-square-foot office building on the southeastern corner of Lincoln and Pascoe avenues.

The project did not require a zoning change from its commercial pedestrian status, so no public meetings were held until after Francis applied for the site-development permit on July 7. A community meeting was then held on Sept. 21.

San Jose Planner Ed Schreiner said that the commercial building will front the road and that the back of the property, which is adjacent to residences, will be used for parking.

Schreiner said that the project met the requirement minimum of 22 parking spaces for commercial property but did not meet the minimum retail-use requirement of 28 parking spaces. Schreiner said, however, that several residents raised concerns about the potential for increased traffic on Pascoe Avenue and possible security issues with an open stairwell and exterior-accessible restrooms.

Francesca LoBue, who attended the meeting with approximately 10 other residents, said that her concerns had to do with traffic and loitering.

"We're happy with whatever they do to clean it up, but we don't want a stairwell in back or external bathrooms," LoBue said.

LoBue said that the Chevron gas station on the other side of Pascoe Avenue already has problems with transients loitering in the back.

She said it doesn't make sense to make the bathrooms externally accessible, because it is inconvenient for office tenants and it might encourage vagrancy.

Francis said that the design could change depending on the desires of the first tenants who lease the space before it's completely built.

He also said that loitering would be difficult on the site because the design maximizes visibility.

"The concern is there, naturally," Francis said. "But we set the building up in front to make things visible."

He added that the office building would have older and contemporary styles combined to fit in with Willow Glen architecture.

"It'll be a nice building to dress up the corner," Francis said. "I have confidence in the location. It's going to be a real nice opportunity to put in a business."

Schreiner said that the owner of one residence, whose property is adjacent to the lot, expressed concerns over privacy in her backyard with the addition of the two-story structure next door.

He said that the developer has proposed building a 7-foot masonry wall and planting evergreen trees to screen the view.

Schreiner said that the planning department is awaiting revised plans before possibly scheduling the project for a public hearing in late October.