ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Plans for a Costco store in the Asheville area remain uncertain as city officials continue to weigh the economic benefits against concerns about zoning and long-term development of industrial land.
The proposed retail project, planned for the Enka Commerce Park, was reviewed by the city’s Technical Review Committee on Nov. 17 and is scheduled to go before the Asheville Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 7. A final zoning decision by City Council is expected in 2026.
Supporters of the project say the warehouse retailer would bring hundreds of jobs, increased tax revenue and expanded access to affordable groceries. Critics, however, argue the development could harm small businesses and eliminate one of the city’s last remaining industrial-zoned sites intended for manufacturing.
Asheville City Councilman Bo Hess said he has met twice with Costco executives in recent weeks to discuss potential locations and community priorities. Hess said earlier discussions explored sites across Asheville and Buncombe County, including Swannanoa and the former Matthews Ford property on Biltmore Avenue, but Costco emphasized the need for an existing infrastructure, a large footprint and direct access to a major highway.
Hess said later meetings focused on site and operational plans, including sustainability measures, wages and benefits and opportunities for local food producers. According to Hess, Costco representatives indicated a willingness to stock locally produced goods if suppliers can meet scale requirements and discussed second-chance hiring opportunities for people with prior involvement in the criminal justice system.
The proposed store would create more than 300 jobs with full benefits, Hess said, adding that the project would preserve the Enka clock tower and surrounding greenway features.
City Council member Kim Roney also met with Costco representatives and highlighted similar priorities, including wages, sustainability and transportation safety. Roney said she is advocating for hourly wages above the city’s living wage standard and noted that benefits would be available within 30 days for full-time employees and 60 days for part-time workers.
Roney said Costco representatives discussed the possibility of solar energy at the site, reduced use of Styrofoam packaging and infrastructure improvements such as a multi-use path connecting the parking area to the Enka clock tower. She also cited estimates that about 19,000 Costco members in the region currently travel out of state to shop, taking an estimated $20 million in spending with them.
Opposition to the project has come from the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County, which has raised concerns about potential wage impacts, reduced property tax revenue and the loss of industrial land needed for manufacturing and higher-paying jobs.
The proposal includes a request to amend the conditional zoning for properties at 264 and 274 Enka Heritage Parkway to modify the site plan and project conditions.
