Negotiations between the city and the Earthquakes, who first expressed interest in a site on Condit Road several months ago, are still underway. But the move will be one step closer to reality tonight if the planning commission approves the team's application for a use permit at the site at 16695 Condit Road, where the now-defunct Golden Oak Restaurant sits.

The city's planning division has recommended that the commission approve the use permit, according to Kathy Molloy Previsich of the city's community development department. The applications and plans submitted to the city include remodeling the restaurant building for use as a training and fitness facility, and converting two and a half acres on the property into a professional-quality natural turf soccer practice field. The campus would include a weight and cardio facility, treatment rooms, personnel offices and dining, video and meeting rooms.

"(The Earthquakes) have indicated to the city that Morgan Hill is their top choice for their training facility, and we're certainly excited about that, and supportive of their application," Molloy Previsich said.

Earthquakes Executive Vice President David Alioto hesitated to say the team is absolutely going to move its training and practice operations to Morgan Hill due to the ongoing negotiations with the city. "But we are focused on Morgan Hill," he said.

"The city has been very easy to work with, and they've proved to us it's a good place to possibly put our home," Alioto said.

He added part of those negotiations include an agreement in which the team would run the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center, which is across the street from the proposed soccer site.

Furthermore, he noted the Earthquakes have historically been "heavily involved in the community," and this is a benefit the team could bring to the city. Ways the soccer players have been involved in the past include visiting schools and teaching kids about fitness and nutrition, bringing entire schools to games, and offering soccer training to underprivileged kids.

If the planning commission approves the Earthquakes' use permit application, the city's architectural site review committee will consider their design permit at its Feb. 5 meeting. If the site plans are approved there, the city council will be able to give its seal of approval to the move at its Feb. 18 meeting, Molloy Previsich said.

The use permits the soccer team has applied for are unrelated to the ongoing negotiations regarding the operation of the city's sports complex, which is currently run by the Morgan Hill Recreation Department.

Golden Oak Restaurant operated at the site for more than 20 years, but recently closed.

If and when conversion of the site into the Earthquakes' training center is finalized, Molloy Previsich said it will be in operation seven days a week year-round. She said the site will be staffed by 30 soccer players, six coaches, and 15 support staff who will be commuting to Morgan Hill and patronizing local businesses. While the training facility itself is not intended to be a visitor draw, Molloy Previsich noted that team tryouts or other activities conducted there could raise Morgan Hill's profile as a soccer town.

"The San Jose Earthquakes are one of only 16 Major League Soccer clubs, and having them here would increase the visibility of Morgan Hill's soccer activities," Molloy Previsich said.