Yorkville Costco gets green light from city commission despite resident concerns

The proposed Costco in Yorkville passed another city planning hurdle, despite some residents voicing concerns during a public hearing that the influx of shoppers could lead to traffic nightmares.

The planned Costco was approved by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 08, including a special use variance for a proposed gas fueling facility. The Costco plan layout designs also received unanimous approval.

According to city documents, the proposed site is on 43.54 acres at the northwest corner of Veterans Parkway and Countryside Parkway in the Yorkville Crossing development area. The plan includes the 160,000 square-foot retail store, a gas fueling facility, perimeter lots, and lots designated for stormwater management.

During the public hearing before the commission approvals, several residents said they supported bringing Costco to Yorkville, but were concerned about traffic congestion in the area.

Yorkville resident Jeff Burke, lives in the Prairie Meadows neighborhood north of the proposed site and suggested installing traffic control devices at the intersections of McHugh and Kennedy roads and McHugh Road and Marketview Drive.

“My biggest concern is traffic along the queue, which runs on the west side of our subdivision,” Burke said. “I see Kennedy Road and McHugh Road becoming significantly busier.”

Marcia Ayala, also of the Prairie Meadows neighborhood, said she was concerned that the increased traffic from the retail store and the gas station in the dense and small area could pose a potential risk to the safety and health of the community.

“The northwest corner is only 0.2 miles from a baseball field where families park their cars for their children to play on the field and in the park,” Ayala said at the meeting. “People ride their bikes and high school cross country runs in that area. People walk their dogs around that area. There’s a bike path on Veterans Parkway that people use to ride in a safe area that will be right in front of the Costco.”

To mitigate some traffic and congestion concerns, the planned development contains six vehicular access points, including three along Countryside Parkway, one along Veterans Parkway, and two along the queue.

An updated site plan now aligns with a traffic study conducted by the city engineer that recommends a modification of a traffic signal at the intersection of Veterans Parkway and Countryside Parkway and the entrance to the Costco parking area. The city is awaiting feedback from the Illinois Department of Transportation on the results of the study.

A commiapproved amendment to the city code permits 956 parking stalls parking stalls. The original city code for the site only allowed a maximum of 387 parking stalls.

The current property owner of the site is Joda Land Holding, LLC.

The final vote for city approval is tentatively scheduled for the Jan. 28 city council meeting.

Costco representatives said they are looking for an incentives agreement with full details coming before the Jan. 28 City Council meeting.