MADISON, Wis. -- A new proposal to build a large Whole Foods market is getting a preliminary OK from some Madison officials.

A previous design idea -- to have the new supermarket move down from its current location on University Avenue and anchor Hilldale shopping center -- was shot down. Whole Foods had originally proposed a 40,000-square-foot facility at the mall, where Humana Insurance had been.

The new plan calls for a 65,000-square-foot store, but there would also be 350 condos -- located in three towers -- and a large parking structure, WISC-TV reported.

The parking question was the primary reason the previous proposal was scuttled. It had called for surface parking, but the new one includes room for more than 820 cars in a structure.

In addition, the new blueprint has large quantities of commercial and retail space, including a possible hotel, health club, restaurants and stores.

Brad Bohlen, marketing director for Madison's Whole Foods, said that he thinks the plan for the larger store would provide ample room for an "enhanced shopping experience."

"It broadens our ability to bring in local products," Bohlen said. "We do a huge business in local products. Now, we can expand upon that, but we can do larger things in our larger venues with prepared foods, in enhancing the shopping experience, in broadening our product lines as well."

Two Madison city officials said that they were pleased with the proposal.

Madison Common Council member Noel Radomski said that the plan follows the city council's suggestions when the original proposal was rejected.

"They basically are proposing what the city council asked them to do," Radomski said.

Fellow Alderman Tim Gruber agreed with Radomski's feelings about the proposal.

"It's generally really good," Gruber said. "They've made a lot of improvements. They've addressed the things the plan commission has brought up. I think it's a real good step in the right direction."

Radomski said that he thinks the plan's chances of moving forward appear to be improving.

"If I had to look in to a crystal ball, I'd have to say they probably addressed all of them, if not most of them -- issues of density, issues of surface parking, issues of mixed use, condos, retail, and then structured parking," he said.

The owners of Sentry Foods, which currently has a store at Hilldale, said that they haven't seen the plans and didn't want to comment.

The proposal to have the two supermarkets has been a key source of controversy. Some have said that they think the two markets could co-exist, but it's clear this could also be substantial competition, WISC-TV reported.

Public hearings about the new proposal have been scheduled for July and a vote by the council is possible by summer's end, WISC-TV reported.