Costco defies Bay Area pump ban as it moves to open massive gas station

Drivers in one pricey Bay Area county could soon catch a break at the pump after city leaders greenlit a massive new Costco gas station — despite years of fierce opposition from environmental activists.

The Novato City Council voted this week to approve a 28-pump Costco gas station at the retailer’s existing warehouse in the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, about 30 miles north of San Francisco.

The decision clears the way for the project despite Novato being in Marin County, which passed a ban on new gas stations in 2022.

The city council first approved the station in March of 2021, a year before the Marin county city passed a ban which prevented the construction of any new gas pumps. Because it was approved before, the city said the ban doesn’t apply here, per SF Gate.

“Costco has been a valued member of the Novato business community for many years, serving local residents and contributing to our local economy,” Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Jacobs said in the release. 

“We recognize the environmental concerns that have been raised by members of our community and appreciate the thoughtful engagement throughout this process.”

The city said they thoroughly reviewed the project’s environmental impacts and its consistency with city policies before granting approval. The city’s planning commission signed off on the proposal in April.

“This project provides a convenient option for Costco members, supports the continued vitality of the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, and helps retain jobs, spending and sales tax revenue that benefits our community,” the Mayor Pro Tem said.

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Not everyone is celebrating.

Opponents have spent years fighting the project, arguing the “mega gas station” would worsen traffic, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions per a Change.org petition.

“Therefore, a Costco Gas Station would negatively affect our health and the quality of air, water, and soil, as well as the atmosphere, with short- and long-term consequences.”

At a city planning meeting in December, Novato Sustainability Commission Chair Pablo Downer Paster blasted the proposal.

“A station designed to pump millions of gallons of gasoline, year after year, will produce tens of thousands of tons of CO2 that directly conflicts with the climate action plan that I helped write and with state mandates.”

Construction on the project was initially halted in 2022, after a Marin County Superior Court agreed with a group of upset residents who had sued the city over the project, per the Press Democrat.

The judge ruled the city needed to do a more thorough study of the impact to the community and environment before the massive gas station could be built.

Costco gas tends to offer prices $0.05 to $0.30 cheaper than local competitors in the Bay Area.

The relief from the sky-high gas prices in the state, couldn’t come at a more vital time. As of Saturday, the average price at the pump in Marin County is costing drivers $5.81 a gallon, according to AAA.