-October 23,2021-
Giant fulfillment complex planned along Hwy 99
Madera County is processing an application for a 122 acre, three million sq ft fulfillment center located at Ave 7 just north of the Fresno city limits. Named Riverwood Fulfillment center, the county issued a Notice of Preparation of a Draft EIR for the big project.No tenant name has been announced.
The five level building would feature an automated storage and retrieval system with storage units moved by low profile robotic equipment. The total floor area of the proposed facility is approximately 2,900,000 sf. The facility would operate 24-hours a day, 365 days per year. The proposed site plan includes 325 trailer stalls and approximately 1,800 parking stalls.
Costco to relocate NW Fresno store
Costco wants to relocate its NW Fresno store at Gates near Shaw and 99 in Fresno to a vacant 22.4-acre site at Herndon and N Riverside Blvd, also near Highway 99.
The city is holding a public scoping meeting that will be conducted virtually on November 2, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Costco says they want to build a 178,223sf store and adjacent 32 pump gas station as well as an automated car wash.
Costco has three stores within the metro area and would still have the same number once the relocation happened.
The existing Costco gas station would be decommissioned, including removal of the underground storage tanks. The existing and proposed Costco sites are shown.
The project would allow Costco to expand services in the area to include a larger gas station and a car wash, as well as a loading area to facilitate last-mile home delivery of big and bulky items in the Fresno area. The Costco retail building is consistent with established zoning for the parcel; however, a re-zone and General Plan amendment would be required to permit the proposed car wash.
The project also includes a proposed General Plan amendment and rezoning to reclassify the adjacent portion of West Herndon Avenue from expressway to super arterial to allow the construction of an intersection where West Herndon Avenue meets the Arthur Avenue right-of- way. The intersection would allow project traffic to access the project site via two north-south streets, rather than solely from North Riverside Drive. This would permit easier travel for southbound drivers along North Riverside Drive, including nearby residents and visitors to the Riverside Golf Course.
Costco Wholesale facilities are operated on a membership-only basis. The warehouse and car wash hours are anticipated to be Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The fuel station would operate from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.
The latest financial news shows the big warehouse retailer, the second largest retailer in the world behind Walmart, had comparable store sales up nine percent this latest quarter and thirteen percent for the full year.