South Bay Neighbors Fight Proposed Costco

SAN JOSE, CA — West San Jose residents say their community isn't the place for a massive Costco warehouse and its inevitable impact on traffic safety.

The Planning Commission is set to certify an environmental impact report on Wednesday for a potential sixth Costco at 5287 Prospect Road. The report published this month includes letters of concern not just from residents, but government agencies.

Given its proximity to Saratoga, Community Development Director Bryan Swanson requested San Jose leaders coordinate closely with Saratoga on land use to ensure the project is developed responsibly.

The proposal is going to the City Council for approval on Oct. 22.

Marc Pawliger, co-founder of grassroots group Save West Valley!, said the surrounding neighborhood has similar concerns and wants to see road improvements. He said the area isn't equipped to handle the traffic a Costco would bring — and San Jose officials don't seem interested in addressing the problem.

He described the area as a multi-jurisdictional puzzle.

"We've seen Costcos make a lot of improvements to public infrastructure around them because of problems they themselves will cause, and we haven't seen San Jose talk about doing anything likewise," Pawliger told San Jose Spotlight. "There doesn't seem to be much of an effort between Costco and the city to get any kind of mitigations or improvements."

Since San Jose officials first announced plans for the warehouse in 2021, community groups like Save West Valley! have written hundreds of public comments and kept the neighborhood up to date as the project moves forward.

Pawliger said he is meeting this week with Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei, who represents District 1 where the project is planned, to discuss his concerns. Kamei did not respond to a request for comment.

"That intersection actually is Saratoga on one side and San Jose on the other. Lawrence Expressway is a county road and Prospect is a city road — so it also crosses a county supervisor district's boundaries," Pawliger told San Jose Spotlight. "It's going to take getting a lot of groups to sit down together who don't necessarily have the same priorities."

Prospect High School students regularly cross the traffic islands that split lanes at some of the busiest intersections, he said.

City officials say they plan to expand the path of travel on the west side of the proposed Costco along Lawrence Expressway from 4 feet to 8 feet and build crossing improvements at crosswalks.

A spokesperson for the Prospect High School Parent Teacher Student Association concerned over traffic safety told city officials the 11,000 additional estimated daily trips requires more than the "proposed minor walkway improvement."

Moreland West Neighborhood Association President Amy Cody is a member of the association and said she wants to see not only the city make infrastructure improvements, but for Costco to take a more active role.

"I would like to see Costco, or the owner of the shopping center, pony up for some of the infrastructure that is needed for these project proposals," she told San Jose Spotlight. "It's just going to have a tremendous, lasting impact on folks who live next to the area, who travel through the area to go to school and definitely those who shop here."

If the 165,000-square-foot Costco is approved by the city, the Goodwill store, Ethan Allen Furniture Company, Bikram Yoga San Jose and former Smart & Final and Orchard Supply Hardware building will be demolished. The project will be the first U.S. location with rooftop parking, according to Costco, and will include a tire center. Additionally, part of the parking area will be reconfigured to close off a driveway across the street from Graves Avenue residences.

According to Costco's website, the store would bring 250 to 300 jobs to San Jose.

Neighbors like 59-year resident Sheafe Smith said they are supportive of the proposed Costco because the warehouse could revitalize the area.

"Westgate West used to be a vibrant shopping center and I want to see it return. The only way this will happen is with a seismic shift like Costco will bring," he wrote to city officials.

The San Jose Planning Commission meets Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

This story was originally published by San Jose Spotlight.

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