Plan for Costco gas station OK’d, but residents say they will appeal

SAN RAMON >> The San Ramon Planning Commission has approved a 32-pump gas station on the border of San Ramon and Danville, but residents say they’re planning on filing an appeal because of health and traffic concerns.

The commission approved the project, opposed by some nearby neighbors on Fostoria Way, some who call it a “mega” gas station. The new service station is proposed for the former Office Depot site on 3111 Fostoria Way, across the street from the existing Costco warehouse store, which is across the city boundary in Danville.

The project was approved in a 3-1 vote, with Commissioner Howard Frank voting no and Commissioner Gary Alpert recusing himself because of a potential conflict of interest.

Commissioners held at least three public hearings with dozens of people calling in to speak. At Tuesday’s meeting, of the 28 comments received by the commission in writing, 15 were opposed. Some of the residents against the project live nearby at the Fostoria Terrace townhouses, which are about 520 feet east of the project site, according to the city. Some said they were worried about the amount of traffic the new station would bring to their neighborhood, and the emissions of idling cars as drivers wait for an open pump.

Commissioner Jean Kuznik pointed out that 32 pumps would mean less time idling and waiting for a free nozzle.

Other residents noted that there is a prep school near the site, and a shopping center with restaurants. Both

could feel the traffic, noise and even health impacts of such a large gas station, residents asserted.

Some commissioners, including Rick Marks, said they struggled with the decision.

“I’ve gotten to the point where I’m still uncomfortable with the scale of this project, but I can’t find any solid reason to say no, other than it just doesn’t feel right,” Marks said.

Commission Chair Eric Wallis said that all of the main concerns from residents, including air quality, traffic and even noise,

wouldn’t have any adverse effects according to studies conducted. The city also had a third party evaluate previous studies commissioned by Costco to validate them.

“You have to follow the signs, and the signs say this project meets the requirements for this area and the city of San Ramon,” Wallis said.

Commissioner Frank said it seemed the data provided by Costco on how many cars and trips the service station would generate was based on its membership information. As other commissioners pointed out, only Costco members can pump fuel at the station, and it won’t be open to the general public. But Costco did not pro

vide membership numbers, which it said is proprietary.

Resident Christine Santiago told commissioners that she was particularly concerned about the health risks of the gas station so close to her home; she lives at Fostoria Terrace. As a person with lung cancer in remission, the emissions from idling cars and trucks could be dangerous for her, she said.

Jon Bristow, who also spoke at the meeting, opposed the project, saying the number of cars using the pumps would create gridlock.

“To approve this project would be to declare that city of San Ramon really cares about money but not much about people,” he said.

Santiago told this newspaper that the group Safer San Ramon, which is against the project, plans on appealing to City Council to “try not to let Costco ruin every neighborhood in California.”

Appeals must be filed within 10 days of approval, which would be Dec. 28. If

an appeal is successfully filed, it would go before the City Council.

A similar fight against a new Costco store has been going on for at least four years in nearby Pleasanton. An Alameda County Superior Court judge last month ruled against a group of residents suing to block the big box store, although a legal appeal is still possible.

A new Costco store could be coming to Newark as part of a long- envisioned major redevelopment effort for the struggling NewPark Mall.