PERRYSBURG — Traffic concerns surround a proposal to bring a Costco store to the city, which
received conditional approval of its preliminary site plan Thursday.Residents said there are already too
many vehicles in the proposed location near the intersection of Ohio 25 and Eckel Junction Road, just north
of Interstate 475.Planning Commission members Greg Bade and Byron Choka were among those not satisfied with
with the plan. Preliminary approval passed 5-2 after statements from Brody Walters, planning and zoning
administrator, and Tom Yurysta of Proudfoot Associates, a consultant of the city who reviewed traffic
studies submitted by Costco; a presentation by Ted Johnson of TJ Design Strategies, Costco’s engineering
firm; and many questions and claims from residents.The focus of discussions varied, touching repeatedly on
traffic and opinions of some who would welcome the store, but at another location in the city. Other areas
of focus included sidewalk placement, entrance and exits, impact on residential property value, and aspects
of the building such as signage and design elements.The commission approved the plan with a list of caveats,
including sidewalk placements, building appearance, and signage compliance, unless there is a successful
appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals allowing signs larger than 75 square feet.The preliminary plan calls
for a wholesale store and fuel center of roughly 150,000 square feet.