ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A decision on the proposed Asheville Costco has been delayed once again as developers seek more time to iron out complex infrastructure and design hurdles.
The Asheville Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to grant a second continuance for the project, rescheduling the hearing for April. The move comes after the applicant requested a 60-day window to address concerns raised in a recent staff report.
Commission Chair Geoffrey Barton expressed reservations about the repeated delays but agreed to the extension, with a firm caveat.
“We do see continuances from time to time; this is a complicated project,” Barton said. “My recommendation would be that’s the last continuance that we provide and that the applicant come prepared to present and be heard.”
Derek Allen, who was representing Costco, told the commission that the project involves “all-hands-on-deck” coordination. He noted that the team is scheduled to meet with city staff Thursday to discuss a range of issues, including transportation networks, annexation and environmental considerations for the site.
The proposed 160,000-square-foot warehouse and 32-pump fuel station would sit on approximately 40 acres at 264 and 274 Enka Heritage Parkway and 1455 Sand Hill Road.
Allen explained that the complexity stems from the site’s intersection with various jurisdictions.
“You’re talking about how the road ties in from one city road to a state road and who’s going to own the road,” Allen said, adding that the team is also working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Sewerage District.
While commissioners acknowledged the difficulty of the design, some voiced concerns about the impact of delays on public engagement.
“I want to make sure people are able to be present for when it’s talked through,” one commissioner noted, pointing out that many residents have been tracking the project closely.
If the developers are not ready by the April meeting, city staff indicated the project might be pulled from the agenda entirely and re-noticed at a later date to avoid further confusion for the public.
The project had been “penciled in” for a City Council hearing this month, but that timeline will now shift based on the commission’s decision.