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Costco considers Central Point for relocation New store would be built at Hamrick and Table Rock roads if plans are approved Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 13, 2015 at 4:59 PM Updated Aug 14, 2015 at 10:15 AM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 13, 2015 at 4:59 PM Updated Aug 14, 2015 at 10:15 AM » RELATED CONTENT • Where would you put a new Costco? • Costco tables plans for new store near Trader Joe's • Medford planners raise concerns about traffic at proposed new Costco... • Medford Costco may move near Trader Joe's » Social News Costco Wholesale has its eyes on Central Point after its relocation plans for Northgate Centre Marketplace near Trader Joe's in Medford fell by the wayside. Costco has informed the city of Central Point of its intent to build a warehouse and fueling station on an L-shaped group of lots bound by Hamrick Road to the north, Table Rock Road to the east, and Federal Way and the FedEx trucking terminal to the west. The southern terminus of the development would be bound by an extension of Airport Road that would connect with Federal Way. Tom Humphrey, Central Point community development director, said Thursday he was uncertain of the size of the project. The Medford application was for a 155,548-square-foot warehouse along with a fueling station. Costco avoids discussion of its real estate and ambitions but made it clear during its pursuit of the Northgate Centre location that its 24-year-old warehouse next to the North Medford Walmart Superstore is a relic ready for replacement. It presently occupies 12.5 acres along Highway 62. The store was built in 1991, and within a year or two it expanded to its present 136,000-square-foot footprint. A pre-application meeting bringing officials from Central Point, Medford, the Oregon Department of Transportation and Jackson County together with Costco representatives is scheduled later this month. Costco, based in Issaquah, Wash., had submitted plans last spring to relocate to the Northgate Centre between Highway 99 and the railroad. But the company put that idea on hold after Medford planners found its parking lot layout could create pedestrian and vehicle problems at one of the main entrances. The news that some Costco traffic would share the entrance to the Trader Joe's area also elicited a long string of complaints from local residents, who said the entrance into Trader Joe's parking lot was too narrow and its parking slots too small. Aware of what happened in Medford and the fickle reality of commercial development, Humphrey carefully sidestepped direct comments about Costco, which would be among the city's largest employers and taxpayers. "I'm not counting my chickens before they hatch," he said. The area was once pushed as a state-certified, shovel-ready zone by former Gov. Ted Kulongoski a dozen years ago. The two entities that presently occupy the territory east of Hamrick Road and south of Pine Street are trucking firm USF Reddaway and FedEx Ground, which will soon complete an expansion at 555 Federal Way. Developer Cris Galpin made the infrastructure improvements before the property was taken over by PremierWest Bank. Federal Way Development LLC, connected to the bank's largest shareholder, Georges St. Laurent, acquired the approximately 18.27 acres for $1.25 million in December 2012, shortly before PremierWest was merged into AmericanWest Bank. A portion of the property fronting Table Rock Road is controlled by Medford commercial real estate broker Tom Hamlin. Humphrey noted the area now designated for light industry was once residential. "We had our industrial land over by the railroad, where Twin Creeks (development) is now," Humphrey said. "Then in 1988 we flipped those two elements with light and general industrial moving closer to the airport, where Medford has its industrial land. That seemed to be a better fit." Central Point has also modified its "big-box" store stance, he said. Zoning 30 years ago envisioned shopping centers on both sides of the freeway to reduce traffic needlessly traveling through the interchange. "After Walmart failed to gain approval (10 years ago), we made changes in the code advocating for a shopping center," he said. "Subsequently we've made other changes that don't restrict size." The potential of a large-scale employer coming to town has Humphrey nodding his head in approval. "It's pleasant to see an uptick in employment-based development in Central Point, because what we've seen the last two or three years is mostly residential development," Humphrey said. "Then, bang, we had O'Reilly Auto Parts, Walgreens and others on (Highway) 99. (Rogue) Creamery continues to operate and expand where they can, and there have been a lot of subtle little changes going on." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/EconomicEdge . The new Costco would be built just south of Hamrick Road between Federal Way and Table Rock Road. By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 13, 2015 at 4:59 PM Updated Aug 14, 2015 at 10:15 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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