Fresno’s Revised NW Costco Plan Gets First Green Light. What’s Different?

The environmental plan behind what would be Fresno’s newest Costco got its first approval Wednesday, with revisions made to lessen the impact on nearby traffic.

However, the environmental attorney behind a previous successful lawsuit against the new location said the new proposal doesn’t solve greenhouse gas impacts.

In a quiet meeting, Fresno planning commissioners approved on a 5-0 vote the revised plan for Costco at Herndon and Riverside avenues. Commissioner DJ Criner and Commission Chair Peter Vang were absent. The plan is scheduled to go before Fresno City Council on May 21.

Representatives from Costco said they will incorporate new measures to reduce unavoidable traffic increases to the area, including changes to Riverside Drive and nearby Arthur Avenue.

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer praised the decision, saying the project will bring $15 million annually in tax revenue.

“This development represents a strong investment in Fresno’s economy and continued business development,” Dyer said in a statement.

Costco to Complete Streets Surrounding Store

Lynette Dias, consultant with Urban Planning Partners, said the company needs to relocate from Shaw and Blythe avenues because that location, built in 1985, suffers from congestion and lacks the amenities of most modern Costcos.

“There’s been a question about ‘why relocate? Why do you need another Costco in Fresno? ‘” Dias told commissioners. “Well, if any of you have been to the Shaw store, you probably know why we do.”

Dias said the location at Herndon and Riverside met the company’s needs for open space, a location near a freeway, and close proximity to the location it would replace.

The new store would have a 16-pump gas station, a 4,800 square-foot automated carwash,  a market-delivery operation, and the typical amenities at a newer Costco, including optometry, a bakery, and more.

The problem for Fresno County Superior Court Judge Jonathan Skiles in 2025 when he ruled in favor of plaintiffs, was the impact traffic would have on the area. Skiles agreed with the plaintiffs that the planned last-mile warehouse did not fit the zoning assigned to the property.

The city argues that the 47,000 square-foot market delivery operation is part of the retail operation, serving to help deliver large purchases such as appliances, mattresses, and other items to customers.

The city says delivery options are commonplace at stores such as Walmart.

Dias added that changes to adjacent roads would make driving easier. Part of Herndon Avenue along the Costco project would be redesignated. Spruce Avenue, directly north of the Costco, would be extended to Arthur Avenue to make it so drivers on Arthur didn’t have to make a U-turn.

Trucks would also not be allowed on Riverside Drive.

City Should Rezone Property: Brannick

Environmental attorney Daniel Brannick, representing the plaintiff in the lawsuit, said the city should have rezoned the land to Light Industrial, which allows for truck delivery operations.

“That was a very doable task, and it wasn’t done,” Brannick said during the meeting.

While Brannick said the project should be subject to the city’s program to limit the amount of vehicle travel — called VMT — the city says Costco’s project was approved before it passed its VMT rules.

Brannick said nothing has changed from the first proposal.

“I’ll probably be here in two weeks,” he said, referencing the upcoming City Council meeting.

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