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City reports progress and challenges as Costco negotiations continue
Summary
City Manager D.K. Wesley said staff has engaged DOT, the seller and Costco to resolve site barriers: large amounts of fill and a retaining wall, need for sewer connection (staff estimated about $850,000), and unfunded traffic improvements at Exit 44; talks continue but no final agreement yet.
City Manager D.K. Wesley told council staff have provided responses to barriers Costco cited for a proposed store site and are working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the property's seller to encourage Costco to re-engage.
Wesley said planning staff compiled a response package and the city also sent a letter to Costco. "We have some good indicators that they're considering that, but obviously nothing's done until it's done," Wesley said.
Wesley identified several development challenges the company flagged: the need to bring in substantial fill to build the store and parking, construction of a costly retaining wall, and the absence of a sewer connection at the site. He said staff can support a sewer-connection grant application that would require the city or county as the applicant and estimated the sewer connection at roughly $850,000. Wesley also described planned but not-yet-funded improvements at the Exit 44/Smoky Park Highway intersection that would improve traffic flow to the site.
Council members raised follow-up questions about site constraints and why prior projects had failed; Wesley said the issues were primarily site-development matters, not city code problems, and that staff had discussed funding opportunities with state legislators. "We can support that application…that site does not serve by sewer yet," Wesley said. He added that the city will continue outreach but cautioned that completion depends on the seller, DOT, and Costco.
