Meetings to approve Costco in Perrysburg postponed

12/12/2013

Plans for a Costco store to be located in Perrysburg have been put on hold.

The public hearing scheduled to Dec. 17 before City Council to consider a special approval permit has been postponed as well as a final site plan approval at the Planning Commission scheduled for Dec. 19.

Brody Walters, planning and zoning administrator for Perrysburg, said the meetings were postponed because Costco is in negotiations with Columbia Transmission which owns the gas line that runs underground across the site of the proposed store. The building would not be located over the gas line, but Mr. Walters said the gas company wanted larger landscaping islands so there would be less parking pavement above the gas line.

Costco, he said, is working on minor changes to the landscaping plans which is taking out some parking spots.

"The City of Perrysburg will continue to be in contact with Costco representatives and will provide all required notices when this project is ready to move forward," Mr. Walters said.

Costco planned to put a store near the southeast corner of State Rt. 25 and Eckel Junction Road. Some residents expressed concerns about traffic congestion from such a store, and some suggested putting it in other locations, including further south on State Rt. 25. It would be its second store in the Toledo area, with the first opened several years ago on W. Central Avenue and Secor Road in West Toledo.

Costco's preliminary site plan was approved with a few requirements at the last Planning Commission meeting. The special use permit was also recommended for approval to city council by the commission if those guidelines were met.

A few of the requirements with approval that caused problems with Costco included enhancing the pedestrian sidewalks from State Rt. 25 to the building, adding sidewalk and landscaping on the north edge of the building, and limiting Costco signs on the building. 

Ted Johnson, who represents Costco for TJ Design Strategies, said at the Nov. 22 planning commission meeting they wanted the store to open next fall and would need construction to start the second week of January.

Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.