Costco rezoning, plan advanced by Chandler commission

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

Chandler’s Planning & Zoning Commission didn’t have much on its Jan. 15 regular meeting agenda but one of those items is a major development.

The commission unanimously approved its small consent agenda at the short meeting. One of the items on consent included recommendations of two approvals toward the construction of a Costco Business Center on the southwest corner of Alma School and Pecos roads.

The developer, Kimley-Horn, seeks rezoning to a zone C-2 planned-area development, or PAD, along with approval of a preliminary development plan. Planning and zoning commissions make recommendations to governing bodies for approval or disapproval to governing bodies, such as the Chandler City Council.

The Business Center would be the second Costco location in Chandler, though the other is a Costco Wholesale. Business centers are more geared toward restaurants and supplies for other businesses, whereas the Wholesale model — the more common type of Costco — is aimed at families and has seasonal items.

The type built on South Galleria Way, near the Chandler Fashion Center, is a Costco Wholesale.

The plan includes a 144,000-square-foot, 34-foot-tall building and a gas station on the 18.6-acre site, which is just north of Loop 202 and is east of an apartment complex.

C-2 zoning in Chandler is defined as “Community Commercial,” where establishments “offer comparison shopper goods, convenience goods and services, specialty items, amusements and numerous other services catering to less than a citywide market.”

The Costco project and the continuation of a permit to keep using a single-family home as an office — in the 500 block of West Chandler Boulevard — were the only development items on the agenda for the regular meeting and both items were kept on the consent agenda.

Both items were also listed on a the commission’s agenda for its study session. Video of those study sessions aren’t livestreamed nor posted on the city’s YouTube channel.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.   Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org 

INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.