Loomis Costco draws concerns from Rocklin City Council, staff

Ahead of the updated draft environmental impact report for the proposed Costco in Loomis, Rocklin City Council and staff reiterated strong concerns regarding the potential proliferation of traffic on the Sierra College Boulevard corridor near Interstate 80. While there was a general consensus on the benefits of a Costco store, there was no support for the proposed 152,000 square-foot retail store and tire center with an accompanying 24-pump fueling station designed as is. The national retailer purchased close to 18 acres of land at the corner of Brace Road and Sierra College Boulevard in July, according to Gold Country Media archives. Loomis Town Manager Sean Rabé said the updated environmental impact report is expected to be released in late fall. In a presentation at the Oct. 8 meeting, Rocklin City Manager Steven Rudolph reiterated concerns presented in a letter issued in response to the draft environmental impact report in 2018. "From a lay-person perspective, I think this store is going to make an absolute mess of the traffic along Sierra College Boulevard corridor," Rudolph said. "The main issue that we have relates to the capacity of the turn pockets, known as queue length. When the turn pockets are exceeded, then the vehicles impede the flow of traffic in the through lanes… And then the traffic backs up into the travel lanes." If Costco is ultimately developed as is, Rudolph added, five traffic signals will be between Interstate 80 and Taylor Road. Because there will be limited spacing between the five signals, Rudolph noted the backup from the pockets into the travel lane has the potential of queuing back into the upstream intersection. "We do think this situation is solvable," Rudolph continued. "We think that there are ways to actually locate this Costco store at this location without causing the traffic mess that I eluded to. But to solve this problem requires a willingness to make adjustments to the project site design and frankly, to spend a little money on the roadway improvements. The town of Loomis and Costco have not expressed a willingness to make these changes or improvements." With a Costco store designed appropriately with the "proper mitigation," Rudolph said that the Costco would promote commercial development in both the town of Loomis and the city of Rocklin. He added a store designed inappropriately will hurt existing businesses, discourage future development and be a source of frustration for Rocklin residents that use Sierra College Boulevard. Rabé said the town of Loomis has met on numerous occasions with Rocklin staff and identified 23 separate traffic improvements along Sierra College Boulevard to be constructed or funded within the two cities in connection with the Costco project. But without an agreement between the two cities, Loomis cannot require that improvements be built in Rocklin, Rabé said. He added Loomis has also offered to contribute almost $2 million to defray costs incurred by Rocklin in making existing improvements to the Sierra College Boulevard and I-80 interchange and to maintain other improvements. "Sierra College Boulevard is a major thoroughfare for traffic generated by businesses and residences in Rocklin, Placer County and Lincoln," Rabé said. "Loomis and Costco are committed to doing their fair share to improve circulation on Sierra College Boulevard, which helps everyone." During the Oct. 8 meeting, a presentation by transportation consultants Fehr & Peers levelled four key traffic concerns with the proposed Costco project. The proposed traffic signal placement on Sierra College Boulevard would be insufficient for inbound and outbound traffic, according to the presentation. The placement would also limit access to undeveloped retail parcel in Rocklin on the west side of the street. Secondly, the proximity of the fueling station pumps to the signalized driveway. Fehr & Peers consultant John Gard noted with one in-bound lane to enter the fueling station, it wouldn't take much for lanes to get backed up and cause disruption on Sierra College Boulevard. Another key traffic concern was the 2018 Draft Environmental Impact Report lacked effective mitigation for Rocklin streets and intersections. Gard also noted recent discussions have failed to lead to mutually agreeable solutions in regard to mitigation efforts. Lastly, Costco would use Interstate 80/Sierra College Boulevard interchange capacity without reimbursing costs for recent upgrade or potential future expansion costs. Joining the sentiment of every Rocklin City Council member, Councilman Ken Broadway said Costco would be a major benefit to all if the involved parties could find a way to work through the issues. Like his colleagues, Broadway commented on the state of discussions. "My increasing frustration is that the fact that I have heard many people on this dais, as well as our staff, say, 'We can absolutely support this project done right,'" Broadway said. "…There has been discussions about that, however, I've participated in a two-by-two and I've seen zero effort to address that. While I appreciate willingness on parties to engage, (but) when other parties are not willing to look at the solutions, it becomes problematic." For Rocklin Councilwoman Jill Gayaldo, whose husband was the former principal of Del Oro High School in Loomis, she said Costco is an opportunity the town "desperately needs." But much like her colleagues, Gayaldo spoke of the negative effects if the Costco design is not revised. "What our concern is, which should be a mutual concern, is that we do this right," Gayaldo said. "Because if we muck up Sierra College (Boulevard), don't think that Horseshoe Bar Road will be a disaster. Because no one in Loomis will try to do Sierra College and they will all go down Horseshoe Bar Road. It will be an absolute disaster for Loomis there too. So we have reason to work together." Gayaldo also tried to squash concerns over attempts to hold up the Loomis Costco in an effort to build it in Rocklin. She added there have never been designs nor efforts to build a Costco in Rocklin. No action was taken up by the Rocklin City Council at the Oct. 8 meeting, as the item was a presentation.