LAKE STEVENS — Let the Costco talks begin.
The Lake Stevens City Council is set to discuss the possibility of a Costco Wholesale moving to town during a meeting later this month.
The Issaquah-based company has applied for a development agreement, and now it’s in the hands of the city council to consider.
The council could make a decision at the Nov. 26 meeting, but doesn’t have to, said Melissa Place, a senior planner for the city.
If everything moves forward, the company’s next steps would be to ask for approval of a construction plan and then to apply for building permits.
No decisions have been made yet. There’s no timeline for when construction could begin.
Written comments will be accepted up to the day of the council meeting, but the city would like to have them by Nov. 21 so councilmembers can read them beforehand. Attendees also will be able to speak at the meeting.
Costco has proposed to build a 160,000-square-foot warehouse on nearly 37 acres at the southwest corner of Highway 9 and 20th Street Southeast, near South Lake Stevens Road.
The wholesaler started to apply for permits earlier this year, and soon after company representatives visited the city for a public meeting.
Afterward, Costco had a chance to edit and resubmit some of its plans. The wholesaler made some changes to its mitigation strategy, such as adding culverts for fish to pass through to reach Mosher Creek, Place said.
Costco’s proposal has sparked strong feelings for and against building in Lake Stevens.
Some would like to see a Costco, to create more jobs and to bring in more sales tax revenue for city projects. Others are worried it’ll bring more traffic and other problems to the area.
Costco has several stores in and around Snohomish County, including in Smokey Point, Everett, Lynnwood and near Woodinville.
Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.
Learn more
Send written comments to Melissa Place through email at mplace@lakestevenswa.gov, or bring them to Lake Stevens City Hall, 1812 Main St.
City council will discuss Costco Wholesale applications at 7 p.m. Nov. 26, at the Lake Stevens School District Educational Service Center, 12309 22nd St. NE.
