Yorktown Residents Concerned Over Costco, Future of Town

Traffic nightmares, air pollution, local businesses going out of business, real estate values going down in Yorktown.

Those are just some of the issues a group of residents are envisioning for the town's future if the proposed Costco Wholesale Club development is approved.

Several residents spoke out in front of Yorktown town board members earlier this week and urged others to check out their website – nocostco.com – for more information and join them in their efforts to stop the project.

"What concerns me is that our town is facing a proposed development that will change its very nature forever," Yorktown resident Jim McKean said. "Yet most of the town seems unaware of the full impact of what is about to happen."

McKean asked town officials not to grant the necessary permits needed for the constructions of the 151,000-square-foot retailer on Route 202.

"The fate of this project and our town is in your hands," he told town board members. "Without the permits they can't move along."

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Residents who spoke against the project said they were concerned local businesses – operated by Yorktown residents – would go out of business. Jennie Sunshine said she was concerned about storm water runoff and increased air pollution from increased traffic. Others weren't willing to sit in traffic in order to save a few dollars. 

Yorktown resident Babette Ballinger said people should think about what they're willing to give up for another place to shop.

"Don’t let the destruction of our rural environment be the legacy of this town board," she told town officials. "Are you willing to contribute to the deterioration of the quality of life for the majority?"

The public hearing for Costco has been set for Oct. 15. It will be held in the Nutrition Center Room in the Yorktown Community and Cultural Center. McKean urged residents to attend the meeting and speak up.

"This is not a done deal, as much as people would like you to believe," he said. Now is the time to make your voice heard."

Mark Prudenti, a Yorktown resident for more than 25 years and a small business owner in town, left a comment to a blog post written by McKean on Patch, stating his position in favor of Costco. 

"Costco gives back a percentage of their gross revenue to the town they operate in, and perhaps the most important fact (to me, and other average citizens of Yorktown), they will provide discounted gas prices and discounted groceries," he wrote. 

Earlier this year, Costco representatives met with Yorktown Chamber of Commerce members to brief them on their development. 

If Costco is developed in Yorktown, officials said it would generate $600,000 in school taxes, $88,000 in town taxes and $9 million in county and state sales tax revenue. Costco also contributes back 1 percent of pre-tax dollars to the community in which each store is located – which is estimated to be $1.5 million for Yorktown.

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For more articles (written by Patch staff) related to Costco click on the links below:

• Costco Relocates Proposed Fueling Area in Site Plan
• [Poll] Costco 'Cautiously Optimistic' to Open in 2013
• Public Hearing for Costco Set for Oct. 15
• No Decision on Costco's Sewer Line Creation Yet
• Yorktown Smart Growth Distributes "True Costs of Costco" Information Kit
• Residents Discuss Proposed Costco and Potential Environmental Impacts
• We Asked Our Readers to Comment on Costco

For blog posts (written by local community members) click on the links below:

• It's Not About Costco
• Costco: It's Not a Done Deal
• What Will Costco do to Yorktown?
• Costco Is Already Making a Difference.
• Yorktown Chamber of Commerce Weighs in on Costco
• The Costco Development Can Come Back to Bite Ya!
• Development of the Route 202 "Economic Development Corridor" in Yorktown
• Mom & Pop Culture Shop Costco
• Yorktown About to Enter New Development Era

Editor's Note: The article has been updated to reflect the change that the Oct. 15 Planning Board meeting – the date for the public hearing on Costco – will be held at the YCCC building, not Town Hall.

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