Costco warehouse store that’s proposed for northwest Omaha gets Planning Board nod

OMAHA — A Costco store is part of a mixed-use development site proposed southeast of Omaha’s 180th Street and West Maple Road.

Costco has acquired a 36-acre tract in that area, said attorney Larry Jobeun, who is representing the company.

It wants to build a 160,000-square-foot Costco store and a motor fueling station on chunks of the site. The remainder would be for various other uses that could include residential and commercial.

The city is being asked to rezone the area, currently zoned for agricultural use. Wednesday, the Planning Board gave its nod to the request, which now goes to the City Council for approval. 

The Costco would join two other metro-area locations of the popular warehouse stores, which allow members to buy in bulk quantities. Others are near 124th Street and West Dodge Road in Omaha and near West Giles Road and Westport Parkway in LaVista.

Planning Board members said they received correspondence from numerous area residents. On Wednesday, they heard from some.

The Costco would be built along Emmet Street. An attorney representing the neighboring Andresen Meadows subdivision said the homeowners weren’t opposed to the big box store but object to an access point leading into their subdivision.

He said the primary concern is safety.

Assistant City Planning Director Eric Englund told neighbors that city planners are sensitive to safety concerns but said they don’t believe the design jeopardizes public safety.

Jobeun, the Costco attorney, said since the company will control the entire 36-acre site, it would be watchful of tenants that would locate there.

“Costco wants to be a good neighbor,” he said.