EL DORADO HILLS (October 1, 2023) – El Dorado Hills, a place known for its upscale homes, may have to wait a little longer for a warehouse-style shopping experience. The authorities in El Dorado County are currently evaluating the application for a project called EDH 52/Costco, which includes both retail and apartment spaces. The proposed location for this project is Silva Valley Parkway, situated to the north of Highway 50. As part of the review process, an environmental impact report is also planned.
Carla Hass, a spokesperson for the county, mentioned in an email to the Sacramento Business Journal that once the preliminary review by various county departments and external agencies is completed, the environmental review will commence. A schedule for the preparation of the draft environmental report will also be made available. However, considering the typical timeline for an environmental impact report, it seems unlikely that the project will receive final approval and the environmental report until sometime in 2024. This would mean that construction may not commence until the second half of 2024 or possibly even 2025. It should be noted that this estimation does not account for any potential legal challenges that might arise, which cannot be ruled out for a high-traffic-generating project like Costco. Opponents of development in western El Dorado County often raise concerns about the impact on traffic.
If the Costco store on Silva Valley Parkway becomes a reality, it is expected to attract customers not only from El Dorado Hills but also from Cameron Park, Shingle Springs, and Placerville. The store itself would occupy an area of 156,000 square feet and would face southeast, away from Silva Valley Parkway. The location falls within the southern portion of the designated EDH 52 area. It is worth noting that the media relations department of Costco Wholesale Corp., based in Issaquah, Washington, has not confirmed the existence of this store. They have a company policy of not announcing stores until a few months before they are due to open.
In the original application, there was a mention of a Costco-branded gas station. However, the updated application submitted in July 2023 does not include this feature. The store is expected to provide employment opportunities for up to 170 individuals. In an online entry from 2022 on the Construction Journal website, which specializes in construction projects, the estimated cost of the El Dorado Hills Costco project was listed at $15 million. However, this entry also anticipated that construction would commence in August 2023. On the northern side of EDH 52, the plan is to include 304 apartments and 14,000 square feet of retail space catering to the local neighborhood.
