ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A proposed Costco development in the Ejnka/Candler area is expected to generate more than 12,000 vehicle trips a day, according to a traffic study now under review by state transportation officials.
The estimate comes as the warehouse retailer moves another step closer to building a store near Smokey Park Highway, Sand Hill Road and Jacob Holm Way, an area where traffic is already a concern for some drivers.
The Asheville Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of a conditional rezoning request for the project Wednesday, Oct. 7. Asheville City Council still must consider the request.
But questions remain about how the development will affect nearby roads and what improvements will be needed to handle the additional traffic.
The N.C. Department of Transportation expects to complete its review of the traffic impact analysis and provide comments by mid-November.
NCDOT spokesperson David Uchiyama said the study was prepared by a traffic engineering firm working for Costco and its developer. It is being reviewed by the agency’s Congestion Management Unit in Raleigh, with engineers from Division 13 also taking a closer look at local traffic conditions.
The estimate of more than 12,000 daily vehicle trips is lower than an earlier projection.
Uchiyama said the developer removed two proposed commercial outparcels from the plans, reducing the amount of traffic the overall development is expected to generate.
The figure represents projected vehicle trips, not necessarily 12,000 additional vehicles on surrounding roads. NCDOT did not specify how much of that traffic would be new to the area.
What road improvements are being considered?
During Wednesday’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, the development team outlined several proposed changes to nearby roads and intersections.
Those include adding a second left-turn lane from Smokey Park Highway onto Jacob Holm Way, dual left-turn lanes from Sand Hill Road onto Smokey Park Highway and a dedicated right-turn lane at the development’s Sand Hill Road entrance.
Whether all those improvements will be required remains to be seen.
Uchiyama said NCDOT is still reviewing the proposals, along with whether additional changes to intersections, traffic signals or nearby roads might be necessary.
And while the improvements could help accommodate Costco traffic, they aren’t necessarily intended to solve congestion that already exists.
“The developer is responsible for mitigating traffic that the proposed development generates, where feasible,” Uchiyama said in an emailed response to questions from 828newsNOW.
Who pays for the road improvements?
Costco’s developer will be responsible for paying for and constructing the improvements NCDOT requires.
And those improvements won’t be something the developer can put off until after the store opens.
Uchiyama confirmed that the required road work must be completed before Costco can open.
Transportation issues have been a sticking point for the project before. Costco previously withdrew an application amid disagreements involving roadway improvements and the transportation review process.
The latest proposal is moving forward, but NCDOT’s review will help determine what road work is needed and how extensive those changes will be.
What about traffic near I-40?
The project’s proximity to Interstate 40 is another consideration.
Under NCDOT policy, developments expected to generate more than 3,000 vehicle trips per day must complete a traffic impact analysis.
Uchiyama said those studies identify locations on the state highway system, including interstates, where modifications may be needed to accommodate traffic generated by a development.
NCDOT has not identified any specific I-40 improvements that would be required for the Costco project.
For now, the proposed turn lanes and other traffic changes remain under review.
State transportation officials expect to have their comments ready by mid-November, giving a clearer picture of what will have to happen on surrounding roads before Costco can open its doors.