Campaigns

Community advocacy is the best means to getting our voices heard. Below is what we are working on to educate our friends, neighbors, and decision-makers.

Please get involved!

Escondido -
Proposed Costco and Mega Gas Station

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Massive Proposal

Costco and Westfield have filed an application to build a new massive 155,000+ sq. ft. Costco warehouse and mega 30+ pump gas station at the site of the former Sears store at the North County Mall at 272 E. Via Rancho Pkwy. in Escondido.

The average Costco warehouse and gas station generate upwards of 10,000-15,000 new daily vehicle trips…per day! We can assure you that the slowly dying Sears store generated a fraction of that, which means, thousands of new daily vehicle trips on our streets and in our neighborhood. That translates to longer commute times, delays to emergency response times, more car accidents (especially considering the proximity to San Pasqual High School), and more pollution being pumped into the air.

We are also concerned about the massive 30+ pump gas station being proposed at a time when we are actively trying to lessen our reliance on fossil fuels and carbon emissions. There is also the fact that the gas station may become obsolete within 10 years, will require several daily big rig fuel deliveries day/night, will likely be open from 5AM-11PM, and will require underground storage of three huge fuel tanks that could raise long term safety concerns for nearby neighbors if/when the station becomes obsolete. And there’s the fact that there are already four full-service gas stations within a half mile or less of the proposed mega gas station. When is enough, enough?!

Taxpayer Subsidies

In June 2022, the Escondido City Council voted 5-0 to authorize a lease with Costco for the city-owned parcel where Sears operated. The lease was dramatically undervalued in order to attract Costco to the site (the City is only going to charge $8,333/mo. for a prime 200,000+ sq ft. parcel in Southern California). Simply put, taxpayers are subsidizing the low lease rate for Costco, the third largest retailer in the world. We wonder if the other businesses and gas stations near the site got such a sweetheart deal from the City when they decided to locate and operate here?!

Not A Done Deal

Costco must still go through the land use process, public hearings and be approved by the City Council. It also means we have an opportunity to demand that the City require that a full and comprehensive Environmental Impact Report(EIR) be conducted to assess neighborhood impacts to traffic, noise, water resources, pollution, and the environment, before anything is approved.

Get Involved & Stay Informed

There are still a lot of questions about this project and the impacts it could have on our quality of life. Please consider contacting the Mayor and City Council to share your concerns, to get more information, and to demand that a full and comprehensive EIR be conducted before anything is approved.