New Costco planned for Thurston County. Here’s where the project stands
Costco representatives are set to meet with Tumwater officials again this week to discuss a new store proposed at the southwest corner of Interstate 5 and Tumwater Boulevard.
Those representatives will come before the city’s Development Review Committee, a body that provides information on what local government will expect of the development before it becomes official.
The gathering is described as a “pre-application meeting.”
The wholesaler is proposing to bring a 166,000-square-foot store to 2413 73rd Ave. SW. The proposed store is about 23,000 square feet larger than an existing Costco at 5500 Littlerock Road SW.
Eighteen months ago Costco officials made a similar pitch to the city and its Development Review Committee about a new store for the area. They explained the rationale for the new location.
“Obviously this would be a relocation of our existing facility in Tumwater,” said Costco representative Brian Whelan at the time.
“I think anyone who shops there knows that we have some serious constraints in terms of parking configuration, the amount of parking and size of the facility.
“So what we’re really trying to do here is, you know, right-size the Costco facility in the market to better serve our member base,” he said.
Tumwater Community Development Director Brad Medrud explained the differences between the meeting 18 months ago and the one scheduled for this week.
The previous gathering was to assess the feasibility of the project, a time when developers can come in and have a general conversation about their proposal, he told The Olympian.
This week’s meeting takes it a step further, Medrud said. Now, the developers have a complete packet of information about the project and are coming in to confirm with the city that they have all the materials they need to make a formal submittal.
“Essentially they’re getting ready to submit their (land-use) application, and we’re doing a final check through,” he said.
The meeting is set for 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
