Proposed northwest Fresno Costco put on hold by judge, environmental group 'pleased'

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Plans for a caller northwest Fresno Costco are present connected clasp aft a region justice rejected it implicit biology concerns, penning successful an bid that the city's support conflicts with authorities law.

"It's decidedly a setback, but I don't deliberation it's over," Fresno City Council President Mike Karbassi said. "We person the quality to entreaty if necessary, but we besides person the quality to see possibly rezoning the property."

Costco wanted to alteration a vacant batch adjacent Herndon and Riverside avenues.

The warehouse would person been 1 of the company's largest astatine 219,000 quadrate feet. Plans called for a 32-pump state station, a car wash, and astir a 1000 parking spots.

"This is conscionable a vacant portion of land," Karbassi said astatine the site. "It doesn't bash overmuch for anybody. It would conscionable beryllium superb to person idiosyncratic travel in, put millions of dollars successful this property, summation its value, and supply that gross to the taxpayers."

RELATED: Fresno City Council unanimously approves program for caller northwest Costco location

Weeks aft Costco's support successful the outpouring of 2024, the Herndon-Riverside Coalition for Responsible Planning and Development sued the city, raising zoning and biology concerns.

Representatives present accidental they are "pleased" with the proceedings court's ruling.

"As acold arsenic we know, the task is not 'dead,'" they wrote successful a connection to Action News. "The City has an accidental to hole its faulty enactment now."

The organizers suggested aboriginal discussions should beryllium much candid.

"I propulsion backmost vehemently against that crap," Karbassi said erstwhile asked to respond. "I tin archer you arsenic the councilman for this area, I insisted that Costco spell conscionable with the residents, conscionable with different involvement groups - and they did that for years."

In 2024, Costco made a full-court property to get the task approved. Representatives showed up to 2 City Council meetings.

On Tuesday, the institution told Action News it cannot comment.

Costco -- and the metropolis -- are present nether pressure. The lease for Costco's West Shaw determination is reported to expire successful September.

"The past happening we privation is for Fresno to suffer those jobs to Clovis oregon Kerman oregon Madera," Karbassi said. "We privation to support those jobs, and astir importantly, those taxation dollars present successful Fresno due to the fact that we usage that wealth to hole potholes, wage for constabulary officers and firefighters, and parks."

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