A planned $7 million public market on First Street won plaudits and easy approval from the Napa Planning Commission Thursday night.

Commissioners praised the design -- a modern twist on a traditional barn -- and predicted the project would draw crowds to the emerging Oxbow District.

"I think you've hit a home run with this one," said Commission Chair Juliana Inman, who liked the food and wine emphasis in a neighborhood now anchored by Copia, which celebrates food, wine and art.

The developer, Oxbow Management, intends to replicate its San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace, with as many as five restaurants, several dozen food and wine merchants and 10 year-round farm produce stands.

At 23,000 square feet, the market will be one-third the size of Ferry Building Marketplace, occupying a site just west of Copia's north parking lot. Two office buildings and a house will be removed.

Arthur Jacobus, president of Copia, said Oxbow Public Market would have a "substantial impact" on Copia and surrounding businesses. Copia envisions one in 10 marketplace visitors paying to tour Copia.

"This is going to be fantastic," said Commissioner Tom Trzesniewski. "I don't think people realize how great it will be."

The combination of "affordable" restaurants and fresh-from-the-farmer produce should be irresistible, he said.

Friends of the Napa River praised the project for taking advance of the riverfront location. The large deck overlooking the river and the new Oxbow Preserve nature park will accommodate 150 to 200 diners.

The historic barn theme, given a modern interpretation in brick and metal, strikes the right balance, Friends' president Bernhard Krevet said in a letter.

"We are very pleased to see a successful historic reference that is not a literal replication of the past," he said.

A neighboring property owner raised a red flag, asking the commission to study Oxbow District parking, already in short supply when Copia hosts special events.

When Copia has a big event, "I might just as well shut my business down on those days because my customers can't or won't carry the things they get from me a great distance," wrote Mary Jane Stevens, owner of Talley's Decorating Center, 1021 McKinstry St.

"There is a parking problem right now. Why not take care of it before approving more development in this area," said Stevens.

Oxbow Public Market will share parking with Copia, which has an abundance in normal times, city officials said.

Commissioners noted that Copia can be required to make special provisions if parking becomes a regular problem.

Commissioner Michelle Benvenuto said the city should not design parking for peak demand or else "everything would be parking lots." Commissioner Peter Mott noted that the success of Filippi's restaurant on First was also creating a parking shortage near Talley's.

Several commissioners said they liked the idea of creating one-hour spaces near the smaller businesses.

Steve Carillon, the Oxbow Management CEO, said he expects Oxbow Public Market to be completed in late 2007.

The Napa Farmers Market would continue to operate Tuesday and Saturday mornings in Copia's south parking lot.