Loomis Town Council unanimously approves Costco project

Behind a unanimous decision Tuesday night, the Loomis Town Council approved the Costco project located at the corner of Sierra College Boulevard and Brace Road. Accompanied by longstanding concerns over potential traffic proliferation expressed by several local business representatives, area residents and most notably the city of Rocklin, Loomis Town Council members largely highlighted the benefits and necessity for Costco. Of the 155,000-square-foot Costco retail facility with accompanying 24-pump gas station, Loomis Mayor Jan Clark-Crets expressed confidence in project revisions and praised public input. In addition to the economic benefits, Clark-Crets spoke of Costco's business ethics as being a driving force behind her confidence in the project. "Yes, Costco will be a huge boon for Loomis and bring new and much needed revenue to our town," Clark-Crets said. "But it's so much more than that. The Costco corporation is renowned for dedicating quality to every area of their business and their outstanding respected business ethics. The town of Loomis is getting a Costco, one of the most premier and family-friendly businesses that we could hope for." Clark-Crets addressed several instances from the past two years where she said city of Rocklin staff were either uncommunicative or created obstacles. While Clark-Crets noted initial positive conversations with Rocklin City Council members, she said, "The Rocklin city staff that has worked on this project has systematically and strategically torpedoed it from the beginning." In addition to expressing confidence in the final environmental impact report, Loomis Councilman Brian Baker reiterated concerns with the city of Rocklin over the past few years. "I do not believe Rocklin has negotiated in good faith for a lot of years," Baker said. "… They have basically stopped negotiating. They come in and say they are interested in Loomis succeeding, but if they were interested in us and what we have going on, they would have negotiated in good faith. Which they haven't." In addition to mentioning support for a Costco in the area from Rocklin and Loomis residents alike, Loomis Councilman Tim Onderko addressed continued concerns with traffic and questions about the legitimacy of traffic study methods. "I'm happy and I'm satisfied with the EIR (environmental impact report) and the traffic analysis," Onderko said. "Bottom line, what I want people to know is our experts are telling us and the reports are telling us that we got this right. The traffic plan is a really good traffic plan. It's not really fair to compare what's going on in Roseville to Loomis." In a city of Rocklin letter published before an Aug. 4 public hearing, it states there is support for Loomis' economic development and another Costco to the region but the proposed location and site plan present significant challenges to Rocklin's transportation infrastructure, public services and business viability in the area. "The FEIR (Final Environmental Impact Report) mostly ignores concerns formally expressed by Rocklin in July 2020 and after review of two previous versions of the EIR, released in June 2018 and December 2019, respectively," the letter stated. "Rocklin and Loomis leaders have also met multiple times since 2018 to try to reach a consensus, but to no avail. Rocklin's concerns focus on the glaring inadequacy of the analysis of traffic impacts of the project, as well as the unreasonableness of recommended mitigation measures to Rocklin streets and intersections." In addition to leveling concerns about Costco's one main entrance on "Rocklin built and maintained Sierra College Boulevard," the letter states concern over the position of the fueling station. As for the secondary access point to the project site on Brace Road, the letter states its restriction to a right-in and right-out turn movements will not meet the needs for multiple entry points Rocklin has advocated for and most Costco stores typically have. The letter goes on to specifically list concerns which "must be addressed before project approval." ◘ The traffic impact study continues to be fundamentally flawed, including flaws in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) estimations, which undermine the accuracy of impact analyses for air quality, greenhouse gas emissions and noise. ◘ The project doesn't comply with Loomis general plan policies for carbon monoxide modeling, land-use amendments and parking. ◘ The FEIR's rejection of alternative sites analysis does not meet CEQA requirements. ◘ The FEIR fails to consider, let alone evaluate, reasonably foreseeable impacts on public safety that will result from the project. Loomis Councilman Jeff Duncan spoke of Loomis being in the middle of "tremendous population growth" in the south Placer region. Specifically, Duncan addressed concerns about the proposed 24-pump Costco gas station, which could be upgraded to 30 pumps. "With the population growth and Sierra College (Boulevard) being that main artery from Lincoln, we need gas pumps," Duncan said. "Otherwise, you are talking about a mess at ARCO, where you have weaving in and out now. We need more gas pumps to move the traffic along. The other thing about Costco, it's very well organized. It's one way in and one way out, you're not dilly-dallying around using the bathroom or buying sodas or anything like that. It's all about gas." Criticisms of the proposed 24-pump station have been levied by the city of Rocklin, several residents and the owner of the Sierra College Boulevard ARCO station in past meetings. Chief among their concerns was the potential for traffic to build up along the main entrance from Sierra College Boulevard, as access to the gas station would only include a single entrance and exit. Loomis Councilwoman Rhonda Morillas echoed support she has received in the community in favor of a Costco, saying, "I think we need to move this project forward so we can make our town residents happy with having a Costco and have the tax dollars that go with it." While public input and criticism of aspects of the project have been extensive for several months, Tuesday night's public comment phase was relatively small. One resident who described herself as a "staunch" opponent of The Village at Loomis housing project, noted she was in support of the Costco and fits perfectly along the business corridor on Sierra College Boulevard. Absent from Tuesday night's public comment was longstanding concerns from the owners of the Sierra Meadows Apartment complex, which is adjacent to the 17.2-acre Costco site. In addition to leveling concerns about poor design on Brace Road, the owners in past meetings have levied complaints about Costco encircling the complex on three sides. Specifically, Loomis Town Council on Tuesday voted to approve a resolution to approve the California Environmental Quality Act findings and Final Environmental Impact Report, adoption of zoning code amendment and a resolution for a lot-line adjustment With approval, Loomis Town Manager Sean Rabe said, the time frame for legal challenges can start. Additionally, Real-Estate Development Director Michael Okuma noted the construction drawing phase would commence immediately upon approval. This phase, he said, would take several months. As soon as the before-mentioned plans are granted permits, Okuma said construction will occur shortly after at an anticipated time frame of eight to nine months. A link to the Costco Final Environmental Impact Report is at loomis.ca.gov and the full video of Tuesday's special hearing is available on YouTube.