Council To Take Up Costco Project Again Next Week

PLEASANTON, CA — The Pleasanton City Council will consider three measures at its Feb. 4 meeting that would constitute major developments for the proposed Johnson Drive Economic Development Zone project.

Costco and two hotels have expressed interest in occupying spaces in the 40-acre lot along Johnson Drive, near I-680 and Stoneridge Drive. Clorox left its campus at the site in 2013 and the project was first floated in April 2014, the city wrote in a report to the council.

The council will consider adopting two resolutions and an ordinance related to the project.

The first resolution would certify a revised report analyzing the potential economic impacts of the Johnson Drive Economic Development Zone project.

An initial environmental review was completed in September 2015, but a group called Pleasanton Citizens for Responsible Growth sued, alleging the California Environmental Equality Act had been violated because the air quality review related to the nearby Stoneridge Apartment Community was incomplete, the city wrote in a report to the council. Costco and the city agreed to perform additional air quality analyses and the group agreed to dismiss the lawsuit, the city wrote.

The council will now vote on the updated review, which found air quality would be an unavoidable casualty of the project. Still, about 85 percent of the nearly 300 public comments on the environmental review supported the project, the city wrote.

The second resolution up for a vote could change the land use to allow for retail, commercial and business offices. Currently the land is designated for business park and industrial use, the city wrote.

The council will also consider introducing an ordinance approving a rezoning the project site to allow for commercial use. The area is currently zoned for industrial use.

The city estimates the project would contribute at least $1.4 to $1.7 million to its general fund each year, equivalent to 1.7 to 1.9 percent of Pleasanton's annual general fund expenses.

See the council agenda item here.