Development Project

The City Council will consider approval of the final map for the Quito Village Development Project at their meeting on October 6. Approval of the final map is a ministerial step in this process and is required in accordance with the Subdivision Map Act, the City’s Subdivision Ordinance, and other applicable provisions of law. A final map must be approved if it is in substantial compliance with the previously approved tentative map. The final map shows two parcels; a condominium plan for 90 residential units will be filed with the State of California prior to occupancy. The City Engineer has examined the final map and determined it is technically correct and in compliance. Approval of the final map is independent from the contamination cleanup, and a remediation/cleanup plan approved by the County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health (DEH) must be in place before building permits will be issued.

Soil Vapor Contamination

Environmental investigations at Quito Village Shopping Center have identified elevated levels of tetrachloroethene, benzene, and ethylbenzene in soil vapor (the air space between the individual soil grains) beneath the shopping center. The contamination can be attributed to past operations of the former Quito Dry Cleaners and a former gas station. Although the contamination is associated with past operators, the current site owner has requested oversight from DEH.

Initial samples have been taken and testing is currently underway to evaluate the extent of on-site and off-site contamination and other relevant site conditions. Once the extent of contamination is determined, the remediation plan will be refined and finalized. This plan may include cleanup, mitigation measures, and/or long-term monitoring, which will be performed by the site owner’s environmental consultant and regulated by the DEH. The City of Saratoga has no authority over the site assessment and remediation. DEH will issue a notice to owners of parcels within the affected area and initiate a public comment period at least 30 days before the final remediation plan is approved. The amount of time needed to complete sampling and prepare a final remediation plan varies. In some cases, remediation may require several years to complete.

While the complete remediation plan is not finalized, DEH has reviewed and approved the Indoor Air Response Plan prepared by the site owner’s environmental consultant. Copies of both the plan and approval letter from DEH can be found on the City website at www.saratoga.ca.us/QuitoVillage.

Additional Information

For more information or to sign up for email notifications about the Quito Village Development Project and ongoing environmental investigations, please visit www.saratoga.ca.us/QuitoVillage.