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Court clears way for Costco in Central Point Thursday Feb 2, 2017 at 11:49 AM Feb 2, 2017 at 1:46 PM Greg Stiles Mail Tribune @GregMTBusiness It looks like the road is clear for Costco Wholesale to build a new store in Central Point. The Oregon Court of Appeals has rejected an appeal of the Land Use Board of Appeal's decision to allow the city of Central Point to permit Costco to build a new store. The appellate court affirmed LUBA's September decision without opinion, apparently ending a legal struggle that followed the Planning Commission's February 2015 conditional use permit approval, allowing the construction of a 161,992-square-foot warehouse and gas station on 18.28 acres at the southwest corner of Hamrick and Table Rock roads. "The bottom line is they affirmed LUBA's decision and didn't feel it was necessary to go into great detail," said Central Point Community Development Director Tom Humphrey. Humphrey said Costo could begin moving dirt before spring. "Effectively, they've got the green light," he said. "They could've submitted their plans and pulled permits before this, but they were cautious about proceeding until they were through with the legal challenges." Land-use planner Calvin Martin of Jacksonville, retired Ashland lawyer Mark Haneberg, and Medford lawyer David Smith appealed the Planning Commission decision to the city, to LUBA and then Dec. 19, 2016, to appellate court. "We still feel our grounds for appeal were sound," Martin said Thursday. With legal options running dry, Martin said he will turn his attention to the city of Medford, which will pay for part of the Table Rock Road improvements, along with Costco, Central Point, Jackson County and the state. "Why should Medford pay millions for road improvements for a Costco store at an inappropriate site?" Martin said. "The site is technically illegal; it's violating basic planning principles." Medford Costco General Manager Ron Cheek was out of the store, and a spokesman for the Issaquah, Washington, company declined comment. Humphreys said Oregon law allows the prevailing parties, Costco and Central Point, to collect legal expenses from Martin, Haneberg and Smith.  — Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @GregMTBusiness.