What is your problem Bill Wheeler? Costco will not hurt your business but will benefit Pleasanton and all the citizen of town.

If you support the idea Costco coming to this site, please remember when it comes time to vote that Councilwoman Karla Brown vehemently opposed the plan.

Were either of the commenters here at the meeting last night? Then they would have heard what the problems are with having a Costco on Johnson Drive! Traffic, air pollution, bad effects on local businesses. Other stores, hotels and offices could go in the zone, and not bring the type of traffic a big box store would attract. There are good solutions that don't include Costco. Karla Brown has it right!

The long narrow site is inappropriate for Costco. The I-680 freeway exit will back up along the freeway exiting Stoneridge because Costco is so close to the freeway (unlike Livermore that is set-back from the freeway), then the city will demand that the Las Positas Interchange be built.

Also narrowing Owens Drive to one lane next to BART means that Owens will bottleneck. No one will be able to park at the BART station.

If the city had wanted a Costco, it should have put one where the mega Safeway is down near the fairgrounds off of Bernal, not in this narrow strip of land near residential neighborhoods and off of one-lane Johnson Drive.

I love this community. I love the small town feeling, and know several of the small business owners. Many struggle to make it, but provide valuable services to the community. Do we really want a Costco in Pleasanton?

This 12000 car figure is so bogus.They act like every single person makes a special trip to Costco only and fails to factor in how many people would have been in the area for something else anyway.I am also sorry black tie limo may be inconvenienced,but really,a limo service is pretty much at the very bottom of the barrel when it comes to something a community needs.
If you want the small town feel,go downtown and bask in the glory of it.You still will have your nice tree lined neighborhoods and your parks.Costco will be in the other part of town so that is also a bogus argument.

I don't want a Costco in my backyard. I live near Johnson Drive and this is a terrible idea. I want to get involved. I will gladly sign this initiative. I attended the meeting last night and the city does NOT CARE about the residents of Pleasanton.

Congestion and gridlock traffic is already here during certain times on our Pleasanton streets, much of it caused by "cut through traffic" caused by worsening gridlock on 680/580 freeways. - - Now that Stoneridge connects west Pleasanton to the San Francisco Outlet Mall and Livermore, cut through traffic will continue to build as more learn of this new extension to Livermore - that you can count on. Us folks who have enjoyed Pleasanton for the last 10 to 40 years have seen gridlock coming and now it is here and ruining our air quality and enjoyment of our community. Idling traffic congestion creates the worst pollution and it impacts our young and elderly parents the most. - - Adding a high traffic big box is the worst idea that could be proposed for Stoneridge Drive and it cannot be mitigated as long as gridlock continues to get worse every year.

I 100% support having a Costco in Pleasanton AND on this site, especially if Johnson Drive is widened to 4 lanes. It will provide easy access to those of us in town and save us from having to deal with the horrible traffic on 580. Sorry for the inconvenience to you Mr. Wheeler, but it's high time you provide parking for your limos & employees on off-street, private property like most other Ptown businesses do! Your attempt at disguising your opposition as a "traffic issue" doesn't fool me!!
Let's bring Costco closer to home and keep our tax dollars IN the city we live!!

I received an anonymous mailer from Pleasanton Citizens for Responsible Growth. I say "anonymous" because there were no names of actual Pleasanton Citizens to support the assumptions in the flier. Perhaps it is backed by businesses that would lose employee parking space on Johnson Drive or retailers whose gas prices are thirty cents a gallon more than Costco. Or maybe not.

I have lived here more than thirty years and can't say that the five big box stores at Stoneridge have hurt our community. And it seems to me that this site just off the freeway would not generate any traffic through neighborhoods more than our residents already driving the extra fifteen mile round trip on 580 or 680 to a Costco in Danville or Livermore.

And it is a mystery to me how one can say that a store, large or small, that may attract shoppers from Dublin or San Ramon increases crime or noise. Costco is not a 24 hour store like Safeway, or some gas station/convenience stores.

So, the Planning Commission and City Council should give this matter careful consideration, but reject the anguished cries of those who suggest that a Costco in Pleasanton will bring an end of civilization as we know it. After all, we seem to have survived having a Walmart here for a very long time.

Can we change the name of our town from "Pleasanton" to some more appropriate name like "Megapolis"?

-Signed,
Sam
resident of Oak Hill neighborhood in west Megapolis

I would much rather have a Costco than 300 more apartments like we now will have at bernal and Stanley because Karla Brown and her NIMBY's would bring to us at the end of the next state lawsuit. Our kids can't afford to live here now so we may as well have a Costco so our seniors can still survive here until their kids take over their house for the equity.

@Bill: "I would much rather have a Costco than 300 more apartments like we now will have at bernal and Stanley because Karla Brown and her NIMBY's would bring to us at the end of the next state lawsuit."

You've got things backwards. Do you understand why the state lawsuit was brought and why Pleasanton was forced to build more housing? The reason why Pleasanton was forced to build more housing was that the jobs-to-residents ratio of Pleasanton was greatly lopsided, with 1.6 Pleasanton jobs for every adult, working-age resident of Pleasanton. That's why Pleasanton was forced to build more housing. More local jobs mean Pleasanton is required to build more housing.

"Black Tie employees who park their personal cars on Johnson Drive would have to find other spots"

Take just one guess where those "other spots" will be. Bill Wheeler already gets free parking for his employees and they will just park in the Costco lot when it is built. What makes him so special that he should be guaranteed free employee parking for life? This Costco, or whatever else goes there because that land WILL be used, is not the issue. The problem for Wheeler is that he will lose his free parking. The other whiners who think the land should just remain vacant in order to prevent any more traffic need to wise up. Something WILL be built there and traffic WILL increase. Might as well make it something that nearly every resident of Pleasanton can use that also happens to put a pile of money into our city.

This is an excellent site - where a big box store belongs. Also, it's about time they built the Las Positas interchange instead of funneling all the traffic down Sunol or Bernal Avenue.

I am a delivery person I go up and down Soneridge somtimes 5-6 trips a day the only time there seems to be traffic problems is from 4pm to 6pm when traffic is coming from Hacinda business park to 680.
This traffic can used Hacinda on ramp or Santa Rita,Hopyard on ramp would be a lot less traffic on Stoneridge.
Black Tie is the most vocal people because on them loosing there free on street parking drove down Jhonson drive counted 39 cars park across from Black Tie office with only 14,000 SQ feet they must get a much larger space to park there drivers cars along with there fleet
I all for a costco here in Pleasanton.

Perfect location for Costco. All for it.

Seems to me a lot of these commenters have one aim: to discredit Bill Wheeler by saying its bad that his employees park on a public street. Looks like an orchestrated effort against a person who is standing up to the city government and asking them to pay attention to what people are saying. He has a transportation business, folks. He can move his employees to an off-site lot any time he pleases. That's not the issue--it's a smokescreen.

I guess I'll have to tell my employer on Commerce Drive that I'm going to be late every day once they start construction on Johnson Drive, since that's the only place I can find parking when I go to work midday. I'm not a Black Tie employee, and I know a lot of others that aren't either but they park on Johnson too. If the city really cared about small businesses, they would be looking for ways to improve Commerce Drive so there were places to park for us and for customers, instead of making it a lot harder for us.

I am very much in favor of a Costco for Pleasanton. That is better for our town than 2 Walmarts! Costco pays employees a decent wage, and their prices are fair to their suppliers and their customers. Also, I'm glad to see the subject of a Las Positas interchange coming up again. How much time and gasoline is wasted because we can't exit the freeway where needed. I was amazed when a few unhappy homeowners living near the site that had been planned for years were able to block it.

It's very simple. If you want Costco, sign the petition. If you don't want Costco, sign the petition. That way, on Nov. 8 you get to vote YES or NO. It gives the city planners a clear indication of what the people want, so they can proceed. All this silly back and forth here is not going to solve the issues. Or maybe the pro-Costco people are afraid that most of the people really don't want the added traffic mess and pollution....

Agree with everyone who is against putting in a Costco (AND 2 hotels) on Johnson Drive. As stated by many, this will only add to the traffic congestion, and will further stifle the air quality. There's a Costco in Livermore and another one in San Ramon. We don't need one here! MUCH credit to Bill Wheeler for standing up to the city government. Mayor Thorne and Pls. City Council, those of us who strongly oppose this land development will vote it down!

We need to be innovative and create something from the bottom up with this space and not top down as usual. Space is a finite thing and it should be shaped by and for the people here, not corporate interests but the interests of those who live here everyday. Slow this process way down and put some real thought into what is good, useful and beneficial and why not add some wow factor to this as well. It doesn't have to be just another commercial building in a commercial zone. It seems to me thing only thing that's being considered is how many tax dollars can we extract from the square footage of a commercial build. Is that the holy grail to the city staff, planning commission and council members? Develop something to be proud of and a legacy for all now and decades into the future. I am so disappointed by these folks. What a bunch of overpaid buffoons.

"I would much rather have a Costco ..." From Bill in Birdland.

"This is an excellent site" From Dave in Old Towne.

"Perfect location for Costco. All for it." From Patriot in Birdland.

"I am very much in favor of a Costco for Pleasanton." From Jean Ann in Happy Valley.

Do you notice that all the people on this thread in favor of a Costco live nowhere near the proposed site? I don't live in Val Vista, but not too far away. Most all of us over here are of course opposed. So for those in favor of Costco but live nowhere near there, please picture Costco - and all the traffic it brings - within one mile of your house. Do you think maybe that might change your mind?

I can't wait to start getting mailings from Costco about how we should support them in Pleasanton. Of course we should to listen to a $16 billion corporation instead of those who live and contribute to life in Pleasanton. After all, they give us great bargains on bulk toilet paper and cheap hot dogs. But you won't see them trying to drive through traffic here, or have their kids breathe in the air polluted by all the cars waiting in line to buy their gas. Let's see how much they 'offer' to ease the traffic problems their massive store will cause.

BRING IT ON!!!! love all the NIMBY's crying about traffic and pollution. as if shoo'ing off costco and the MILLIONS of tax dollars they'd bring would somehow benefit the air quality of our valley town.

we need to poop or get off the pot. now is the time. we've seen livermore's downtown surpass us. we've seen dublin's retail business surpass us. only thing we're gaining is high density housing. this is a chance to bring in a company that historically pays good, living wages and obviously provides goods/services that are attractive to consumers. we should be welcoming them with open arms.

sorry mr. wheeler has to lose free parking for his employees and the cox family will lose money because costco offers cheaper gas, but guess what? it's called a free market economy. get on the boat or get left behind.

@ Lou, as Karla Brown stated last night, Costco does pay good wages. But not living wages, at least not enough to buy a house in Pleasanton.

Another person supporting Costco who lives across town.

Get the facts,

Costco does pay a nice wage. My nephew has been with them for 15 years. Started out stocking and now a manager. He started in Livermore, transferred to the Penninsula and now store manager in Redding. Good salary and healthcare. He is getting married in September

Costco yes, las positas exit NO!! Why create another path for all the cut-thru commuters, build it and they will come, no amount of traffic lights, stop signs, speed bumps or center islands will discourage these maniacs on their quest to blow thru our town and shave a little time off their commute without any regard to us locals. As a law abiding citizen I'm ready for the red light cameras at all major intersections along with speed traps and more ppd enforcement at Santa Rita and valley during commute times.

So, Costco is bad but the hideously ugly new development next to Safeway is good?!

Interesting priorities...

I've shopped at Costco at many Peninsula and East Bay locations and have NEVER seen issues with traffic. The Mountain View location is in a much denser area and it's still quite easy to get in and out of with the exception of right before Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Sorry, but the traffic argument is quite weak.

**Counting down the days until the grand opening!**

I live in Val Vista (for 12 years and counting). I went to high school here and aside from my time away at college and a few years after I've been a Pleasanton resident for 25 years. Nothing about this proposal worries me one bit. Traffic on Stoneridge has never been particularly heavy except for rush hour heading into and out of Hacienda. Any additional traffic will be pretty isolated to the very short stretch from the freeway to Johnson. This is just typical Ptown isolationist BS stirred up by a business owner who clearly has a specific stake in the outcome. I don't hold it against him for fighting for his business but let's not paint him as Robin Hood standing up to evil local government for the good of all. Sure, Costco is "big box". But at least they pay good wages and offer benefits unlike Walmart - theirs is a model we should encourage, not stifle. Let's be real, no one is going to build nice little mom and pop stores on that parcel. Wake up. Why let our sales taxes go to Livermore and Danville? And pollution? Give me a break. There are bigger fish to fry in this town. This is just dumb.

It seems a Costco here will improve traffic and reduce pollution. All those in Pleasanton that shop at Costco today will no longer have to get on the freeway and drive to Livermore or San Ramon. The major shopping days for Costco are on weekends when there is no commute traffic or traffic to/from the business park so I fail to see this negatively affecting our traffic.

Costco in Pleasanton? Absolutely! Tax dollars stay here, not going to Livermore or Danville and CoCo County. The people working there will be able to live here in the high density housing going up everywhere in town because they make a decent wage with benefits. I would be those working at Walmart live no closer than Tracy. Increased crime? Silly argument. 12,000 cars and grid lock? Again, silly. $1.50 hotdogs and cheaper gas, check.

I am a Costco shopper and support the city in the re-zoning effort to get Costco here.
I think some of the earlier assumptions are incorrect.
The 12,000 shopper per day is too high.
According to John Marchand, the San Francisco outlets get about 7 Million visitors a year. It is the 2nd busiest outlet in the US. The traffic around the holidays reflect this. 7 Million visits = 19k per day. The Alameda county fair when they have the Scottish Games back up traffic for over a couple miles. .
I don’t hear anyone complaining about that.
My ballpark guess of avg visit to Costco is more like 4 – 5k visitor or less.
I shop at both Livermore and Danville and have visited both stores during Christmas. There has never been a traffic issue. Livermore Costco has the added issue of having a mega church next to it. CornerStone Fellowship Church. They have about 6k members. Assuming that the 3 services are evenly attended you have 2k leaving around 12pm all at the same time along with the regular travel coming to and from Costco. IMHO, there has never been a traffic problem even with 2k people leaving the church all as once even at the height of traffic which is at Christmas time.
So, what would cause a backup…… how about the 50k visits over the two days of the Scottish Games…or 25k per day. We had traffic backed up for miles….so even the wild guess of 12k would not be a problem.
IRT revenue. If we assume the 5k per day and an average annual per trip spend of $125. This gives us a $225 M. Sales Tax 9.5% equals to $21 Million. Pleasanton distribution share is probably 1% or 2.1 Million. That means that improvements to the Stoneridge exit to minimize or eliminate traffic issue assuming that we only have to pay $5 Million would be paid off in 2.5 years based only on the Costco revenue. It would be much quicker if the two hotels bring in even more revenue…. The local use tax is much higher for hotels.
For those that don’t understand, a 8% increase IMHO is HUGE. Money that could go to making Pleasanton a better place. HINT: if you want a more vibrant downtown like Livermore, you can not allocate all of your money to sports field, dog parks, trails and restrooms. You need to invest in developing cultural groups and infrastructure. The only infrastructure concession was putting a bulletin board in the downtown…. But that is another topic for another day.
Costco is an excellent retailer….they support local groups.
If you really want to divert traffic, then lobby for two things. 1. Finish the SR-84 bypass which takes traffic off of Interstate 580 at Isabel and connects it to Interstate 680 in Sunol. I guarantee that third to half of the traffic would not be using the 580/680 crossovers. Finish the BART connection to Livermore…that would take much of the traffic to the Greenville road station.
So Jerry T… if you are reading this … I would work with John M. to get the SR84 completed (something that we want) and lobby hard with the MTC to get BART to Livermore (something that Livermore wants).

Longview resident.

Think this through carefully. Folks fought the Home Depot on Valley and Bernal for these same reasons; they ended up with 350 apartments creating tremendous impact on 24/7 traffic, water resources, and schools -- how do you like that solution to traffic, water and air quality issues?? Have you seen the 500 apartments on Owens with Owens being reduced to two lanes to accommodate parking for the apartments?

Of all this development, we still have not met our quota (not one!) units of affordable housing - so more will come at some point is my guess.

The location seems reasonable for a Costco, and if the city does a good job of making the developer deal with infrastructure such as parking and the city deals with the problem it has created over the years of parking for the other businesses, I think this may well be the lesser of evils.

@Long Timer :"I am a Costco shopper and support the city in the re-zoning effort to get Costco here.
I think some of the earlier assumptions are incorrect.
The 12,000 shopper per day is too high.....
My ballpark guess of avg visit to Costco is more like 4 â€" 5k visitor or less."

Please. The "12,000" additional car trips number to that area was arrived at by city professionals making a careful analysis of the traffic flow behavior. I think the accuracy of that figure trumps your "ballpark guess".

The study of the anticipated traffic behavior of a new Costco can be found in section 4-D of the environmental impact report:

Web Link

@Rose :"Think this through carefully. Folks fought the Home Depot on Valley and Bernal for these same reasons; they ended up with 350 apartments creating tremendous impact on 24/7 traffic, water resources, and schools -- how do you like that solution to traffic, water and air quality issues?? "

If you think that building more businesses in Pleasanton will somehow prevent new apartments from being built, you are sadly mistaken. The state and courts forced Pleasanton to build more apartments and housing BECAUSE there were too many businesses in Pleasanton. More local jobs mean that we are required to build new apartments and low-income housing to accomodate all those additional workers.

Pleasanton should do something different, unique and cool and not status quo and allow Costco to build. There are many great alternatives to consider that would be beneficial to our community. I feel for the folks that live very close to that site and I am a Costco member, but we do not need it at that location. Especially if a gas station is allowed, lots more traffic on the weekends and semi and gas tankers coming and going. Hmmmm...I think retail and smaller business fit the bill.

Stop using the traffic as an excuse. When was the last time you see traffic jam near costco in livermore or danville? People don't all go shop at the same time. The real traffic is coming from all the high density apartments/condos/townhouses when they are commuting to work. All nearby cities are expanding. This is 21st century, if you want small town feel, I don't think bayarea is what you are looking for. If city doesn't generate enough money, city will not be able to do any improvement. Don't complain about things not working, facilities are old. Eventually when no business generates tax money for our city, city will have no money and go bankrupt, and your small town will become no town. Please face the fact, expanding the city is the future.

"then the city will demand that the Las Positas Interchange be built." - you mean the same interchange that was in the master plan that the NIMBYs cried and whined about?


"different, unique and cool and not status quo" - in Pleasanton? We can't even allow most establishments to have live music. I'm guessing what we need is another bank.

I don't understand the "traffic" argument. (although I will admit I have not read the impact report) There are no houses nearby the proposed site. I would guess the businesses there (Patio funiture and what not) would love some more traffic. I'm not sure how many Pleasanton residents stay at the hotel. I think the only effect would be a slight delay in getting to/from Club Sport.

HI Sam,

RE;

The study of the anticipated traffic behavior of a new Costco can be found in section 4-D of the environmental impact report:


Thank you for your response and reference/link to the EIR

I could not find the 12,000 number in EIR 4D,can you reference the page number?
You realize that if the numbers of 12k are correct the cost of putting in the improvements is now under a year. ROI of under a year, is a JUST DO it situation in the corporate world.

LongTimer
Longview Resident

I see the horse poo 12k cars per day still being thrown about. Bogus. And if true, so what? That is 12k cars driving a shorter distance. and please, a new Costco doesn't 'create' new customers. Well, maybe a few. Whomever goes to a new Costco won't go to the 'old' Costco they were going to previously. I mean, really, once inside, one Costco same as the next. Only reason to go to the new location 'IS BECAUSE IT IS CLOSER'. Less regional traffic, less pollution. And looky: a nice new tax base for Pleasanton.

I was at the meeting on Tuesday and how come no one is talking about the BIG downside of Costco - $16 million in roads and infrastructure costs? According to the City planners, the cost of adding all of these lanes and roads is $16 million dollars!!

Who is paying? I learned about a fund that was collected from OTHER businesses all over town (not just Costco), $5 million from the developer and the last $6 million is a LOAN with interest from the builder to the City.

YES a loan the city is taking out and paying back over 20 to 40 years with interest - just so you can get 20 rolls of TP and a $1.50 hot dog. A BAD deal if you ask me.

When my friends come to see me they think about our great town, safe streets and small town feel. More water users, more traffic and a big ugly concrete warehouse store when you enter Pleasanton from Stoneridge and 680. Oh, and the sewer treatment plan is on the other side of the road. This is at the loss of our local businesses that support PPIE, our downtown, our schools, our community. Owners that live and work in our town. Sorry - this is not a good fit for Pleasanton.

Do we want to go in debt for a giant warehouse store? Hello NO.

@Long Timer

I believe that the "12,000 cars" number that is frequently mentioned comes from the "Net New Vehicle Trips to the EDZ (Economic Development Zone) Area" contained in Table 4.D-3 of page 4.D-25 of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) at the link I gave previously. Look for the row at the bottom of the Table. The daily predicted number is actually 12,160, not 12,000.

As for your statement of a ROI of under a year I believe that is based on the additional assumptions that you made and is not a conclusion of the EIR, correct? Finally, you may see this as a decision that should be based on pure economics, but that's not the way that I and many others see it.

@"$$$$": "When my friends come to see me they think about our great town, safe streets and small town feel. More water users, more traffic and a big ugly concrete warehouse store when you enter Pleasanton from Stoneridge and 680. Oh, and the sewer treatment plan is on the other side of the road. This is at the loss of our local businesses that support PPIE, our downtown, our schools, our community. Owners that live and work in our town. Sorry - this is not a good fit for Pleasanton."

We should all be thinking of not just businesses and more tax revenue, but what kind of community we want to live in. Here's one outsider's (humorous) view of Pleasanton from about 10 years ago. Imagine what he would say when he comes back and sees a giant Costco in town as well as (horrors!) the new Starbucks on Main Street. Which is it going to be for our future? Pleasanton or "Starbuckia"?:

Craig Ferguson Late Night Show Monologue on Pleasanton:
Web Link

@$$$$$$$$$,

Re: "Oh, and the sewer treatment plan is on the other side of the road."

OK, so let me get this straight--regardless of where any of us stand on having a Costco or not having a Costco, are you telling me looking at a Costco when you enter Pleasanton is WORSE than looking at the EXISTING sewage treatment plant?

Are you kidding me?! That's as hilarious as the comments in the classic 2007 Craig Ferguson Late Show monologue on Pleasanton that @Sam posted.

Fuhgettaboutit.

@Shale99: "...and please, a new Costco doesn't 'create' new customers. Well, maybe a few. "

I would think that a lot more than just a "few". Otherwise, what's in it for Costco to run up the expense of building and staffing a new store?

I am sure that the planning commission or whoever issues permits will make sure that the Costco lot/area has plenty of green plants and trees to hide any harshness of the big concrete building.

Costco would be a great addition for this city...in an area that IS NOT residential - near residential, but not in it. I do not think people will be venturing down the couple blocks to Denker and driving around in Val Vista.

Costco will bring in jobs, money to the city and quite frankly make it easier for me to spend my dollars in town!

Keep it in Pleasanton - we need the business.

Some of the people in this thread are living in a fantasy and seem to expect that their "small town" Pleasanton of yore will not and cannot change, grow, or develop. We live in the fastest growing region of California, and Pleasanton is lagging behind other cities in the Tri-Valley.

I live in Livermore, but work in Pleasanton at Workday, and I welcome the idea of Costco in Pleasanton. I'd love to be able to swing by Costco on the way home or to my in-laws house near Fairlands Elementary, and the tax revenue generated could help in so many areas of the city.
Improve the Johnson Drive intersection at Stoneridge Drive, adjust the timing of the stoplights, and traffic can flow just fine through this area! Eventually, all the NIMBYs in this thread will be complaining that Pleasanton missed the boat as Livermore, Dublin, and San Ramon signed on for these sorts of projects that will support this region long-term. We either evolve, or we die. I for one would like to see Pleasanton grow, develop downtown into a stronger gathering core like Livermore has, and be the town where I buy a home and raise a family. I'm all for this Costco.

An average Costco brings in around $150 million in sales annually. Currently the tax revenue from that is going to Livermore and San Ramon. I don't think a new Costco would take away from local businesses because those that want to go to Costco already do. It is not like it is a very long drive. In reality we won't be losing anything to local business but gaining a a substantial amount of tax revenue.

My guess is most of the traffic would be from the gas station. Costco makes very low margins on the gas, which we all benefit from. The gas station gets people into their stores to shop. "While I am here, should stock up on milk and potato chips." I can see why the gas stations are against Costco as it is going to hurt them. We will all benefit as Costco will drive down the price of gas in Pleasanton.

With that, if the traffic there is bad, people are not going to wait in to to save on gas. Costco must be convinced the traffic will not be a problem, or they would not propose a new site there.

I keep hearing people say to "shop local" so the sales tax goes back into the community. The same people are now against this proposal. I would welcome my tax money benefiting Pleasanton and not Livermore, and I do not expect to make additional trips so the traffic impact is neutral.

Any businesses that will eventually go into that site will generate additional traffic if they are to survive.

Costco is a first class company and one that most of the Pleasanton residents already shop at on a frequent basis. Most of the traffic that would frequent a Costco at this location would come from Pleasanton residents and people who are already in town for work in the office complexes we already have here.

The thought of additional air pollution is ridiculous. Having to drive to Danville and Livermore currently generates more pollution due the distances Pleasanton residents have to drive to make their Costco run. Also, the wind velocity in that corridor blows any pollutants out of the area quickly.

Mr. Wheeler should welcome the additional awareness he will get for his limousine company from the Costco guests that will now see his business. He should think about promotions he can offer in Costco during the Holidays like many of the other local restaurants and businesses do.

Why not make the majority of the Pleasanton residents happy with a local Costco that they can get to much easier and realize the revenue gain from the taxes that currently go to Danville and Livermore.

Let's get our own Costco here in Pleasanton as soon as possible!

@ Sam:
""...and please, a new Costco doesn't 'create' new customers. Well, maybe a few. "
I would think that a lot more than just a "few". Otherwise, what's in it for Costco to run up the expense of building and staffing a new store?"

Sam, let's say for a second that a Pleasanton Costco gets no new members. What's "in it for Costco" is to have Pleasanton residents who already shop at Costco to shop there more often. I can say for myself, instead of driving to Costco about once a month, I probably would be there twice a month or more. So even without new customers, this is great for Costco. But there will be new Pleasanton customers, along with new Dublin and Castro Valley customers too, as Pleasanton would be closer to them than the Hayward or San Leandro locations.

If they build it, they will come. Expect near capacity parking lots on weekends and Decembers. And lines of cars idling for gas.

Having lived in Pleasanton for 45 years I remember when there was only 1 stoplight in town, no overpasses, etc. Today its a different world. As a Costco member , I know I cant get parking on a weekend in Livermore and I think we need an alternative , maybe it's not Johnson Drive, thou the freeway onramp from the proposed site is about 600 yards or less.

I'm sure the Nimby world we live in doesn't want any growth that will impact their lives. But, I'm for it. I too hate the drive to Livermore and just to get its cheap gasoline prices.

RE: Me Too
An average Costco brings in around $150 million in sales annually.

In a conversation with a Costco manager, he mention that Danville, Livermore and one city on the Peninsula are the most highest revenue and profitable. He mention that the wine and liquor are the most profitable and if they could do another aisle that it would be even better. Danville generates more revenue than Livermore.

RE: GET THE FACTS
I can say for myself, instead of driving to Costco about once a month, I probably would be there twice a month or more.

Costco is counting on that.

Some Census demographics

From Wikipedia:
Web Link
Danville also ranks as the 2nd highest-income place in the United States with a population of at least 40,000.

Web Link

In 2005, the median household income in Livermore was $96,632, which ranked it the third highest-income midsize city, behind only the California cities of Newport Beach ($97,428) and Livermore's western neighbor, Pleasanton ($101,022).

My guess is that Costco is counting on us shopping more often.

Based on what I have read.... Pleasanton Costco will have one of the largest parking lot....no waiting.

If we want to do something classy.....do something iconic..... maybe the Harrington can volunteer to put something special and make it a Stoneridge gateway.
If you are concern about the large blank wall of the Costco.... make it a mural and make it memorable. Livermore has those whales on the water tanks. I am sure that we can come up with something that we can all be proud of.

Long Timer
Longview Resident

Revitalization of the business area doesn't mean bringing a shark like Costco to town. It will hinder the growth of the community. There are two costcos within a ten miles radius. Also, it will not foster job growth as Costco generally transfer its employees from other locations to work at the new ones. Finally, is the tax dollar revenue worth destroying our traffic and quality of life?
Thank God Bill Wheeler is doing something about it. If Costco is such a priority, people ought to move near one!!!!

Revitalization of the business area doesn't mean bringing a shark like Costco to town. It will hinder the growth of the community. There are two costcos within a ten miles radius. Also, it will not foster job growth as Costco generally transfer its employees from other locations to work at the new ones. Finally, is the tax dollar revenue worth destroying our traffic and quality of life?
Thank God Bill Wheeler is doing something about it. If Costco is such a priority, people ought to move near one!!!!

Guys, whats all this fuss about. Costco is a very nice store and they have very friendly employees. Have we forgotten about politeness? Come on we can do better. Also, you will be thanking me when you want to go buy some pizza and your in the Johnson area.

Get it done! Nobody lives on Johnson Drive so quit complaining. 8 percent increase in revenue benefits all

@Sam:
HUh? A new Costco location won't create new customers. Anyone who wants to be a Costco member, most likely IS and goes to either of the already existing Costco's. I'll bet 98% of traffic to the maybe new Costco would be already existing members who want to drive a shorter distance and/or take advantage of better parking.
A new Costco hundreds of miles from any other location WOULD create customers. ker plop!

Just want to remind everyone that this is not just about whether to accept the building of a Costco store itself in Pleasanton. Responsibility for having adequate apartments and low-income housing for all those new Costco employees goes along with accepting the Costco store. Pleasanton once tried playing a game where it would say "yes" to all sorts of new businesses but then say "no" to apartments and low-income housing for all those new employees and we all know how that story turned out.

Costco pays their staff well and in fact GlassDoor awarded them the 2016 Best Places to Work award. They probably pay more than most jobs in downtown Pleasanton.

I don't understand the previous comment, calling Costco a "shark". They are providing a retail service, plus treat and pay their employees well. Pleasanton residents already shop at Costco in nearby cities. This would just be more convenient.

I love the comments about 'pollution'.. The site is between two
Major freeways and right next to a sewage plant- the net effect of these 12000 new drives is negligible to nothing.

I also have not seen any concrete proposals on ecomically viable alternative options on what should go on these sites other than the hotels/Costco.

So what's the acceptable number of cars 10000? 5000? 2000? What businesses should go there ?

Bunch of nonsense... Hope it goes to vote and when the rest of
Pleasanton votes for the Costco we will hear more hyperbole and gnashing of teeth without substantive alternatives.

That is an interesting question. For those who do not want a Costco there, what would you like to see there? I hope those who are against the Costco can let us know what they are thinking as a better use.

I want regular business buildings, or restaurants and hotels. No mega stores, mega traffic or mega debt for the city.

Personally I am shocked the council would want the city to go in debt $6,000,000 just to get a Costco. What are they thinking?

What is a "regular business building"?

I would think restaurants, if successful, would generate just as much traffic. However, that location is not a great location for restaurants as nobody would just be driving past them. Out of sight, out of mind. The only restaurants that could be successful there will generate a lot of traffic. BTW, Costco has a 'restaurant'. Hot dogs, pizza, chicken, etc...

RE: CHERYL
Personally I am shocked the council would want the city to go in debt $6,000,000 just to get a Costco. What are they thinking?

Council was thinking that the sales tax from Costco revenue alone would pay off the debt in under 3 years. That is pretty smart and prudent IMHO.

Long Timer,

Longview Resident

@Long Timer :"Council was thinking that the sales tax from Costco revenue alone would pay off the debt in under 3 years. That is pretty smart and prudent IMHO."

According to the other thread on this, the projected tax revenue is 1.4 to 1.7 million annually, while the debt is 6 million. That works out to more than three years. Is it a confidence that the basic facts that Costco supporters present (e.g., tax revenue, traffic) are so often distorted as to favor their argument? I think not. Hard to believe that these are innocent mistakes. If the facts are really on the side of opening a Costco store in Pleasanton, then why the need to skew and distort basic facts? Hmmmm.

I'm in support of a Costco in Pleasanton, and hope to never, ever use it. Furthermore, the arguments against a Johnson drive Costco on the basis of air pollution seem like simple disingenuous NIMBYism. I avoid big box stores, steering my business to local retailers no matter how conveniently the large store is located to me. Yet what I'm truly concerned about is the environmental impact, and if having a Costco located in our city means fewer people driving to Livermore or San Ramon, then the air will truly be cleaner. If anyone with an honest concern about air pollution is taking significant personal steps to cut their own carbon emissions (and is posting on this message board with their real name), then let's have an honest conversation!

Costco will be a great addition. Will definitely vote to support the proposal if the signature gatherers can get enough to put this on the ballot.Mr Wheeler wants the whole area as his private preserve. Has anyone noticed that gas in Pleasanton is quite expensive. So the Shell Gas station owner on Hopyard is whining and opposing as his monopoly will be broken.
The location is excellent with few homes around it.I am surprised people living a mile away are complaining. Costco go for it.

FYI: I recently saw a documentary about Costco and they mention that the markup is only 15% unlike a lot of other retailers where it is 50-60%

@Jim Van Dyke : "Yet what I'm truly concerned about is the environmental impact, and if having a Costco located in our city means fewer people driving to Livermore or San Ramon, then the air will truly be cleaner. "

While less people will be driving FROM Pleasanton to Livermore or San Ramon, it seems that you overlooked the fact that more people from other communities will be driving TO Pleasanton. I seriously doubt that adding an additional Costco store in the Tri-Valley area is going to have the effect of reducing the total amount of vehicle traffic.

Why on earth would we want Dublin and Livermore to continue capturing all the tax dollars? Much of it, in the form of retail sales, comes from Pleasanton residents. And it won't be long before we're all looking (and shopping) at an IKEA across the freeway. That’s why I support the Johnson Drive Economic Development District and any project therein that will ensure the highest and best use of the property. I wholeheartedly support our City Council and Planning Commissioners in their rezoning efforts.

"And it won't be long before we're all looking (and shopping) at an IKEA across the freeway."

It will be long before I am in an Ikea. I have never been in one, and have no need for more assembly required furniture.

I don't need ikea furniture but I do need their meatballs for dinner and Siljan Hardtack. Hotdogs, pizza, chicken bakes and churros at Pleasanton Costco and Swedish Meatballs across in Dublin. Things are looking up.

Sam,

I can't tell how what your saying is in any way different from what's typically called the NIMBY attitude. Aren't you just saying "not in my back yard"? Seems like you just want to freeze Pleasanton, and allow no growth at all indefinitely. Or maybe you want Pleasanton to go in reverse somehow and go back to how it was 35 years ago?

I like the Ikea furniture and food. I maybe be redoing our bonus room next year, and Ikea appears to have some good stuff for it.

Are there many who think that an additional Costco is going to suddenly create new never-been-to-Costco ever members? NOT!
Simple logistics customers will pick the closest Costco as their first choice and the Costco with the best overall parking situation. I certainly will use it as it will be closer than the Danville Costco. I'm pretty sure a few thousand other members will do the same and we will be driving less distance. Win, win, win...

It's not about traffic being generated, it is about the access from I680 and I580. It is also about prime land with freeway visibility being used by light industrial businesses who have outgrown their needs. Fix the access, design attractive buildings and keep tax revenue in Pleasanton. Or if we wait too long, the club store and hotels just go to Dublin again.

I personally don't think Councilwoman Brown should tell us if we need a CostCo or not. I can shop where I want. Council should focus on access, traffic, design and revenue

I drove by the site today and just cannot believe the argument of the opponents on pollution this project will bring.

The site is right next to the freeway and the sewage plant in an area that is light industrial. Forget the argument on pollution. It is just something the opponents are throwing and hope that people do not look at the site and realize the impacts that are already there. Plus there are no houses there. and no routes where people could cut through a neighborhood to get to the site.

Every EIR indicates there will be additional pollution. One house would indicate this. One small business would indicate this. You have to look at the context to know it really is not a problem.

The arguments I see are from those who do not want a "big box" store in Pleasanton for any number of reasons, those businesses that will loose free parking with a business going in there, or a gas station that will no be able to gouge the public with the competition of a Costco gas coming to town.

SAM
RE: According to the other thread on this, the projected tax revenue is 1.4 to 1.7 million annually, while the debt is 6 million. That works out to more than three years.

The projected Tax Revenue is based on an avg Costco. The Danville Costco and Livermore Costco are premiere earners. If they were just average....why would Costco place another Costco so close to two other Costco. This couple with my conversation that Danville and Livermore are 2 of the top 3 earners in Northern California...tells me that projections of $1.5M was conservative so that if whatever reason the high unannounced expectations are not met...that the avg expectation are met.

My guess is that Costco is relying on people habits of filling up once a week on cheap gas will bring them to Costco on their way home.... and into the store to pickup eggs and milk and the extra $125 on unplanned purchases.

RE: SAM
Please. The "12,000" additional car trips number to that area was arrived at by city professionals making a careful analysis of the traffic flow behavior. I think the accuracy of that figure trumps your "ballpark guess".

IRT to the 12k avg visitors per day.....IMHO that number is probably a worst case design number. In light of what happen with the Bernal exit re-design to handle more traffic....it wss obvious not design for worst case as it can not handle the amount of traffic for the Scottish Games 25k visit per day. If we are saying 12k is an average number...then it should be in the same range of traffic as the SF outlets in Livermore.... 7 Million visits or about 20k per day. The SF outlets are about 10 to 20 times bigger than Costco.l...with acres of parking..... and that leads me to believe that the 12k number is more of a worst case number used for designing the traffic flow.

IMHO, the designers did not want to deal with a double jeopardy problem of potentially having two freeway backups scenarios, one at Bernal and one at Stoneridge on a high volume day and to have a repeat failure where they should have in the re-design of the Bernal Exits designed it with the worst case in mind to handle the high traffic requirements of the Alameda County Fairgrounds.

Best not to repeat the same mistake that they made with the Bernal exit.

Long Timer,
Longview Resident

Current(as of this comment) gas price for Regular Gas: Costco Livermore: $2.499/gal and Cox Family Shell on Hopyard $2.869. When Cox Family stores charges 37 cents per gallon more than the competition and gouge customers $4 or more per fill-up, it's not hard to see why they are opposed to Costco coming to town and driving them to lower their prices. Cox family, please don't make it sound like you care for anything but your bottom line. With the number of gas stations you have in the area and the fact you have had them for so long(meaning you have paid off or nearly paid off the capital investment), you should be able to offer lower prices, instead you have tried to monopolize the market and are now whining because your business will make a little less money due to competition. Can't wait till Costco gas comes to town. By the way Costco was not the lowest price in Livermore when I checked so the argument that they can offer lower prices solely based on their size is bogus. There are other stations that are lower than Costco.

This huge store, 2 large hotels plus more exceeds what the area can handle. Simple.

Why the city continues to waste time on it is shocking. A true abuse of our trust and city general funds to drag this on. Mayor Thorne- if you represent the people above all else, and you want to keep Pleasanton the great town it is, then kill the giant and cavernous membership store now.

Or if you are truly in the pocket of the developers, keep this farse going. Show us who you stand with, and who you stand against.

Lisa,

It is very simple we have to continue to have tax revenue come into this city to survive and compete against other cities. Everything we desire, dog parks,union contracts etc require more money. We will need more money until such time as we live within our means. Otherwise we need to keep building.

long timer:

the figure you quote for tax revenue is solely from costco. the projected revenue per year from the site (costco and two hotels) is $2.7 million per year.

lisa:

spare us your "stand for the people" routine. it's no surprise that thorne would back this project. he is pro-growth and ran on that platform and got elected. why would he turn his back on the people that voted for him? just because you have a bone to pick with this particular development doesn't mean that mayor thorne is not listening to the people. he's just not listening to the nimby whiners.

I am glad to see it being developed. We need a nice tax revenue stream and any and all businesses will help.

What I find silly is the naive thinking that many pro-business posters seem to have here that if we allow more and more big businesses into this city then that will somehow "crowd out" any space for building more apartments and housing. Anyone who thinks that is clearly unaware of how Pleasanton's pro-business/anti-housing strategy fared when it was taken to court. Make no mistake: More businesses mean more apartments and more housing. The state and courts will make sure of that. Can't accept more and more businesses and then expect to shovel off the responsibility for housing all those new workers on to other communities.

We should do everything we can to buildout both business and residential. I think we are probably close to buildout anyway.

Perhaps you Pleasanton folks are not privy to our finances, but my City of Dublin has added on new homes in bulk, and added retail outlets all of town.

Has it put us in a financial benefit? No. Our crime is up, our police expenses are up and no one in town is happy with the way our City looks from I580, the loss of the hills and traffic near our freeways is awful. We may need to float a bond to help pay for the shortage in our finances and to cover the school costs. Anyone that tells you development will help pay the bills, look over 580 and tell them they are liars.

So if you want to look like Dublin -- then add more warehouse stores, more stack and pack housing and embrace the hotels and a new Costco. I am sure your properties values will drop because of it, the traffic and the new crime. And then kiss cute little Pleasanton goodbye.

In closing, I heard that Costco came to us first and we said no. Enjoy the crumbs.

@Danny,

" I am sure your properties values will drop because of it, the traffic and the new crime."

May want to check your facts. Dublin crime rates have not gone up, but property values have. So have your test scores in Dublin schools.

We should be a bit honest here. It is difficult to tell when you go from Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon etc. the cities have all growth together like. San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and Milpitas. The same thing happened in LA some time ago and now a big traffic mess.