Costco Retail Center Proposed In Murrieta: Public Comment Sought

MURRIETA, CA — The public has a chance to weigh in on the environmental impacts of a new retail center in Murrieta that would include a Costco, gas station, gym, retailers, restaurants, and other businesses.

A draft Environmental Impact Report for the Costco/Vineyard II retail development project is now available and ready for public comment. Click here to access the draft. Due to the scope of the proposed project, California law requires an Environmental Impact Report.

The 26.3-acre project site is located northeast of the intersection of Clinton Keith Road and Antelope Road, and east of Interstate 215 (see map below). Permitted mass grading for an approximately 18.7-acre portion of the site was intermittently ongoing since around 2006, but the work ended in December, according to the city.

The project site is surrounded by existing single-family and multifamily homes to the east, Vista Murrieta High School and a commercial development that's under construction to the south, Interstate 215 to the west, and a vacant site to the north.

The project applicants, Costco Wholesale and Retail Development Advisors, propose the construction of a new retail development consisting of a Costco warehouse with tire center, gas station, a fitness building, a major retail pad, two smaller retail shops, one casual dining restaurant, one drive-through fast-food restaurant, two detention basins, and associated parking, according to city documents.

The Costco would be developed on an approximately 16.4-acre parcel on the site, and would consist of a 153,362-square-foot warehouse building, including a tire center. A separate 32-pump gas station would be located at the site as well, the documents show.

The remaining retail would be developed on a 7.83-acre parcel to the east of the proposed Costco site and would include the following pads: a 37,000-square-foot fitness center; a 16,000-square-foot major retail pad that may include an office store, pet supply store, health and beauty store, shoe store, or other similar retailers; service-oriented retail shops such as a pick-up and drop-off dry cleaner (no plant on site), hair salon, or phone store in 11,900 square feet and 3,500 square feet buildings; a 1,200-square-foot casual dining space with drive-thru and window service; and a 2,400-square-foot fast-food restaurant with drive-thru, according to the city.

It's projected that Costco would employ 250 full-time employees, while the fitness center, retail, and restaurants collectively would employ another 35 people, the city documents show.

According to the draft EIR, impacts to air quality and transportation would be significant and unavoidable.

The public comment period for the draft EIR ends Monday, July 6, 2020, at 5 p.m. The city of Murrieta, which is the lead agency for the project, requests that comments be limited to the material contained in the draft EIR.

After all draft comments are received, a final EIR will be available again for public comment. Comments on the draft can be submitted to the city. Questions can be addressed to city of Murrieta Senior Planner Dennis Watts at dwatts@murrietaca.gov .