ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Spring 2028.

That’s when Costco fans in the Asheville area could finally get the warehouse store they’ve been waiting years for.

Costco officials shared the tentative opening date Tuesday night, Oct. 13, as Asheville City Council unanimously approved conditional zoning changes for the long-awaited store in Enka.

The vote clears a major hurdle for the project, which has drawn excitement from shoppers but also concerns about traffic and tree preservation.

The plans call for a 168,258-square-foot warehouse, a gas station with 32 fuel pumps and more than 900 parking spaces at Enka Heritage Parkway and Sand Hill Road.

Costco has been looking for a suitable Asheville location for more than 20 years. The Enka site, once part of the American Enka industrial complex, offers the space and highway access needed for a development of this size.

The store is expected to employ 225 to 250 people initially, with the workforce potentially growing to 400 or more.

Traffic concerns remain

Traffic was among the biggest concerns raised during Tuesday’s public hearing.

A traffic study estimates the Costco development could generate more than 12,000 vehicle trips a day, although that doesn’t necessarily mean 12,000 additional vehicles on surrounding roads.

Mike Craig, who lives in Candler and regularly travels Smokey Park Highway, told council members he supports bringing Costco to Asheville but believes the Enka location is a poor choice.

“I just don’t think the Enka site is the right one, simply because of traffic,” Craig said.

He pointed to the intersection of Smokey Park Highway and Sand Hill Road, where the traffic study found significant delays already exist during peak travel times.

Another Candler resident worried about what additional congestion could mean for families trying to get home from work or pick up children from school.

She said traffic is already heavy along Sardis and Sand Hill roads, particularly during school pickup times, and questioned whether the area could handle a major retailer.

Council members acknowledged those concerns but pointed to transportation improvements planned or under consideration in the area.

Proposed changes include additional turn lanes along Smokey Park Highway, Sand Hill Road and Jacob Holm Way.

NCDOT spokesperson David Uchiyama previously told 828newsNOW that Costco’s developer will be responsible for paying for and constructing road improvements required by the state. Those improvements must be completed before the store can open.

NCDOT has been reviewing the project’s traffic impact analysis, with comments expected by mid-November. The agency has not yet finalized which improvements will be required.

Council members also discussed improvements around Interstate 40 Exit 44. The state has funded two of four improvements at that interchange as part of the I-26 project, while additional work is being evaluated.

Tree preservation raises questions

Traffic wasn’t the only concern raised during the hearing.

Karen MacNeil, chair of Asheville’s Urban Forestry Commission, urged council members not to allow Costco to reduce a tree-related site requirement from 15% to 13%.

MacNeil questioned what message the exception would send to smaller businesses and developers that have complied with the city’s requirements.

She also warned that allowing the reduction could encourage future developers to seek similar exceptions.

Former commission member Sharon Summerall echoed those concerns.

“I would like to keep that ordinance as it is,” Summerall said.

Costco’s plans include planting hundreds of trees, but opponents of the reduction argued that additional landscaping should not replace compliance with the city’s requirements.

During council discussion, a city representative explained that the Costco property has unusual characteristics, including portions outside Asheville’s city limits and deed restrictions protecting trees that cannot technically count toward the city’s requirements.

The representative said conditional zoning applications are considered individually, meaning the decision would not create a legal precedent requiring similar exceptions for future developments.

New life for the Enka property

Council members also pointed to the benefits of redeveloping the former industrial property.

The site is classified as a brownfield, with environmental restrictions that limit certain uses. Council members noted that those restrictions, along with the need for highway access and space for tractor-trailers, make finding a suitable location for a store of Costco’s size difficult.

The project is also expected to help rehabilitate the historic Enka clock tower, a longtime landmark in the community.

Council members cited the potential for new jobs, additional shopping options and the redevelopment of property that has sat vacant for years.

One council member said bringing Costco to Asheville could help families struggling with the cost of living.

The council ultimately approved the conditional zoning request unanimously, finding it consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan and in the public interest.

The vote moves the project closer to construction, although additional technical reviews and other steps remain before work can begin.