Costco Gas Station Question and Notes

11/10/2007 & 2/16/2008

Combined

 

Misc question

  • What did the Planning Commission say about Costco’s amendment request?  (Janice will check her notes).
  • Would the City of Kirkland be willing to invest in improvements to mitigate problems?
  • Would Costco be willing to invest in improvements to mitigate problems?
  • Who is paying for the consultant?  Should City of Kirkland pay?  If City pays, there is a perception of bias.
  • We need to study City of Kirkland goal to develop revenue generation here.
  • There is a lack of trust that current proposal will not become a problem.

 

Economic Issues

  • How much revenue does Costco stand to gain from the gas station?
  • How much does the City of Kirkland stand to gain in taxes?
  • What are the potential impacts to the other five gas stations on 85th?
  • Decrease in property values because of environmental concerns.
  • Is there a way to compensate adjacent property owners for decrease in property value?
  • Inability for adjacent property owners to sell property to Costco.

 

Traffic

  • What is the average number of cars at other Costco gas stations?
  • Parking – where do the other 200 stalls come in?
  • What are the specific requirements for parking?
  • No one goes down 90th “passing by.”  People will veer off of 85th.
  • People exit off 405 to cut through on 124th – a gas station in the vicinity will increase people using this cut through.
  • Cut through traffic on 126th/128th (avoiding traffic lights on 124th and on 85th) and the lack of sidewalks.
  • Has there been a traffic study related to cut through traffic
  • Internet shopping for inexpensive gas often points to Costco and people may make this gas station a destination trip just for low cost gas.
  • Trucks on 90th – the road is not wide enough to handle.
  • There is a lack of sidewalks on NE 90th can sidewalks be added?
  • If adjacent properties decide to develop, will there be enough traffic capacity to accommodate those needs?
  • Nighttime truck traffic.
  • Accidents on straight in stalls?
  • Back up traffic when exit and entrance are closed.
  • On 90th as it approaches 124th, at 5 pm, is totally backed up.  How will that increase?
  • Original promise (from the traffic engineers) when Costco came in was no traffic problems.
  • Traffic studies underestimate increased traffic demands and are optimistic.
  • When counting cars for traffic, do it with eyes because it is easy to see where the traffic comes from.
  • Can Costco get its own exit/entrance off I-405?
  • Could 2 left turn lanes be on 120th?
  • Could Costco buy the corner gas station on 85th and 120th ?

 

Environmental Concerns

  • Lighting, especially regard to senior housing.
  • Noise from delivery trucks (fuel trucks)
  • Fumes from waiting cars.
  • Gas and oil spill off on the road and parking lot (cars waiting in line before the “dip point.”
  • Increased pollution if site is changed to currently zoned area.
  • Fumes to retirement home.
  • Will there be nighttime truck traffic.
  • Minimize fumes beyond requirements.

 

Zoning issues

  • Community members put in a large amount of time and energy into the sub-area plan for Kirkland. Putting a gas stations next to residential zoning was not part of the plan.
  • Will the zoning change be only for Costco property?
  • “Auto-oriented” use is intended to relate to car dealerships (and other auto-type traffic like drive-ins, etc).  Intended to force the auto-related businesses towards 85th and the freeway.  Not intended to encourage businesses into the neighborhoods.

 

Local Neighbors property

  • Property values have decrease because of environmental concerns.
  • What will be the impact on the Senior Housing apartments?
  • Have the neighbors in the area been sent a notice individually about the gas station development?

 

Suggestions for Costco

  • Could the site at the Home Store location at Totem Lake.
  • Will low ground lights be used that shine away from the adjacent properties?.
  • Will there be restricted times for delivery and garbage.
  • Is there some way to compensate adjacent property owners for decrease in property value?

Storm drainage problem

  • Set up separate meeting for storm drainage/wetland issue with City of Kirkland, Costco, consultants and wetland neighbors. Bring City expert on water and drainage and development
  • The City has responsibility for drainage.
  • A real way to address drainage that includes multiple agencies – bigger than just the Costco gas station effort.
  • Storm water system is inadequate – property values are influenced by City drainage.
  • Inability to build or sell because of wetland issue.
  • No compensation for landowners re:  drainage.
  • Drainage problems have increased because of Costco.
  • There has been a change in water table since 1989.
  • Inability for adjacent property owners to sell property to Costco.
  • Dispute over wetland designation of adjacent properties.
  • City planning has caused the increased water saturation in that area.
  • Silted ditch.
  • Centrifuge silt removal system?
  • Flooding in area of potential sidewalks
  • Why has there been massive drainage on one end of the lake and it is prohibited on the other area?
  • What impact has I405 had on Forbes Lake drainage?
  • How are sub-divided lots regulated related to drainage?
  • How does the water storage on Costco property disperse once it is silted up?
  • What is the system to remove sediment load on Forbes ditch?