LIHU‘E – Another “big box” retailer is planning to set up shop on Kaua‘i. Costco Wholesale Warehouse, the Seattle-based wholesaling giant with five warehouses located throughout Hawai‘i, is proposing to build another warehouse store and fuel pump facility in Lihu‘e.
LIHU‘E – Another “big box” retailer is planning to set up shop on Kaua‘i. Costco Wholesale Warehouse, the Seattle-based wholesaling giant with five warehouses located throughout Hawai‘i, is proposing to build another warehouse store and fuel pump facility in Lihu‘e.
The new Costco store – if approved – would require the demolition of the Kukui Grove Pavilion, which is located to the south of the Kukui Grove Shopping Center. The self-service gasoline pump facility is proposed to be located next to Home Depot.
The Kaua‘i County Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed projects on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at the Lihu‘e Civic Center.
Costco leaders are seeking various county permits and are proposing to have both facilities opened for business by the fall of this year.
If approved, the projects will provide additional consumer outlets, and likely force existing businesses on Kaua‘i to step up their operations to remain competitive. The arrival of Costco is also likely to spur more retail and housing development in Lihu‘e in the years to come.
The lands on which the projects are proposed are owned by Grove Farm Land Company, the largest land developer in East Kaua‘i.
But leaders of Costco are proposing to buy the land, which totals just under 15 acres for both projects.
Costco officials are proposing to acquire about 13 acres of urban-designated and commercially-zoned land for a single-story warehouse that would have about 150,000 square feet under roof, Michael S. Chu, an authorized agent with LP&D Hawaii for Costco, said in Kaua‘i County Planning Department documents.
The operation of the project will allow residents and visitors to buy products at discounted prices, and will create more than 200 full and part-time job, Costco officials said in the documents.
The proposed project would be housed on two existing and abutting parcels that are bordered by Kalepa, Pikake and Nuhou streets. Plans call for the consolidation of the lots.
Costco indicated that the warehouse will not be intrusive, as it will only occupy 25 percent of the property. Some parts of the remaining land will be used for landscaping and open space and a large 682-stall parking lot, company representatives said.
The warehouse will sport a modern industrial design appearance, with “concrete flooring, exposed framing and piping systems, usage of chain link fencing, industrial metal racks and wood palette displays,” county documents noted.
More than 200 skylights will be installed, allowing natural light to bathe the interior, thus reducing electrical consumption, the report said.
The entire warehouse will be equipped with fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems, and all of the fire-protection system will be in “100 percent compliance with government fire code regulations,” the report said.
The floor area of the warehouse will provide wide shopping aisles. The warehouse will also include a bakery, a rotisserie, a slicing delicatessen, a produce cooler, wall freezers, a photography center, a membership counter, restrooms and an employee break room.
Other features will include an entry canopy, under which will be located tables and benches to accommodate food court activities; a sales area for tires and installation of tires located off the main building; and a loading dock with four receiving bays located at the southeast corner of the warehouse.
As at other Costco stores, an annual membership fee is required, along with other membership requirements. The warehouse is to be opened to members seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
An “internal” spine drive between Nuhou and Kalepa streets will provide the primary access to the project.
Two additional entry and departure areas to the project will be located off Kalepa Street and off Nuhou Street. Access will be facilitated further by nearby road improvements, company representatives said.
The project, if approved, could end the use of the Kukui Grove Pavilion, a popular community gathering spot for more than decade, unless Grove Farm Company officials decided otherwise, county officials said.
Luaus, first-year birthday parties, circuses, auto shows, community events and musical performances were held on the grounds in the past.
Years ago, thousands of residents attended a celebration there to mark the ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane ‘Iniki in 1992.
Parts of the pavilion would be relocated to the grounds of Island School in Puhi for expansion projects there, county officials said.
For the warehouse project, Costco leaders are seeking approval of a Class IV Zoning Permit from county commission, approval for the project from the state Department of Health and approval of county grading and building permits.
The consolidation of the two lots also must be approved by government.
Related to their proposed fueling facility to be located across from Home Depot, Costco leaders are seeking a Class IV Zoning Permit to establish their fourth fueling facility in Hawai‘i. The facility would be developed on 1.5 acres at the intersection of Nuhou and Ulu Maika streets.
The project, if approved, would allow motorists to buy gasoline at discount prices, and is intended to be in operation by fall of this year, according to county documents.
The proposal calls for a “16 pump self-service gas station,” with primary improvements to include a 3,840 square-foot canopy covering four raised concrete pump islands, a small controller enclosure, entry and departure driveways and landscaped front yard setbacks facing Nuhou and Ulu Maika streets.
Fuel storage tanks, which are to meet all government safety requirements ,will be located under the ground, according to county documents.
Safety is the operating word for the facility, Costco leaders said.
The fueling facility will be outfitted with “equipment of the latest technology with many safety features to prevent potential environmental impacts,” officials said.
The equipment will be installed by state-certified installation contractors” in accordance with government requirements, Costco leaders noted in county documents.
Although drivers will be pumping their own gas and paying for it with credit cards, Costco Wholesalers has a policy to provide trained employees at the site during all hours of operation, the Costco documentation said.
In addition, an assistant manager will monitor the station during operating hours, and a manager will have a “roam” telephone that can receive calls from the fueling facility and a warehouse, Costco officials said.
For security purposes, closed circuit televisions monitors will be mounted on canopy columns next to the fuel islands, officials said.
During hours when the facility will be closed, the power to dispensers will be turned off, and each nozzle pad will be locked, Costco leaders said.
To further facilitate the safe and easy use of the pump facility, Costco leaders are proposing road improvements around the property, including widening of the existing driveway at Ulu Maika Street to about 40 feet to accommodate the turning of fuel delivery trucks, the documents noted.
The fuel facility will be opened to Costco members seven days a week, from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays, and from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.
Sales will be done with credit cards.
Depending on how fuel sales go, fuel delivery could take place once or twice a day, the county documents noted.
In addition to the securing the Class IV Zoning permit from the county commission to move the project along, Costco leaders also must secure approval from the state Department of Health and county building and grading permits.
Lester Chang, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and lchang@pulitzer.net
