The market will relocate to the parking lot behind the Aqui Cal-Mex Grill, Blockbuster and the Garden Theatre complex.

"Most of the feedback was fairly positive so we've decided to move forward," San Jose Planning Department planner Ed Schreiner said.

A public hearing on the relocation is scheduled for Aug. 17 at 9 a.m. in the old San Jose City Council chambers, 801 N. First St. Notifications will be sent out to the residents.

Willow Glen Business and Professional Association is spearheading the move and does not anticipate any parking problems. The proposed area-- approximately 9,600-square foot-- will still leave ample parking behind the market.

SuEllen Sterling, the director of operations for the South Bay Farmers Market in Willow Glen, is also comfortable with the proposed move and doesn't see parking as a problem.

The market will be held for up to 30 Saturdays from May through October. The hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

This is the first move for the market in eight years. The rationale behind the relocation, in addition to the construction issues at the elementary school, was to attract more foot traffic into the downtown and surrounding businesses.

"We want to make downtown more of a destination for shopping and a restaurant community," said Don Skipwith, president of the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association. "The reality is that this business community competes with other people. Over the last couple of years we've lost business to Santana Row, San Pedro Square, the new Oakridge Mall. We've lost business everywhere."

Prior to the meeting residents had informally discussed other possible locations.

"We identified a list of possible places to have the farmers market like the Bank of America parking lot, the Wells Fargo parking lot, and this site," Norma Diaz, Willow Glen Business and Professional Association executive director, said. "We weighed the pros and cons and decided to pursue this site."

According to Sterling and her partner, Melanie Defe, their research shows that farmers markets do best in a downtown environment.

When the women first open the market eight years ago they had wanted to be downtown.

"The downtown merchants also wanted it," Sterling said; "however, they didn't have a spot for it at the time."

Both directors emphasized that the move could be reevaluated if issues arose.

If approved, relocation of the market into the downtown parking lot behind the Garden Theatre will void the one- to two-hour parking restrictions when the market is open. All other times posted parking limits will apply.

Residents, however, were concerned about several issues. Some residents questioned the market's visibility and others complained that it was further from their homes and that more people might drive. Parents who brought their children to the current location expressed disappointment at the meeting about the proposed site. They like the school site better because their children can use the playground while they shop.

The residents recommended that the association put up signs on major streets in and around downtown Willow Glen directing people to the new location. One resident suggested that a sign be hung across Lincoln Avenue. Association members said they would review that option.

The farmers market's new layout plans to line the driveway off Lincoln Avenue between Aqui and the Garden Theatre with flower vendors. The association wants to use it as a "gateway" into the marketplace.

Residents within 500 feet of the proposed farmers market will receive notice in the mail of the changes if the plan is approved. The notice will include information about the change in parking hours while the market is open.