Costco clearing land in Maltby

MALTBY – Costco is finally clearing the way for a new store near the junction of Highways 9 and 522 after an appeal against the project was dropped.

Demolition of vacant buildings, formerly home to an auto salvage company and a business park, began this week.

Costco plans to build a 149,000-square-foot store and adjoining gas station on the 15-acre property. The reported value of the project would exceed $7 million.

In August, the Sno-King Environmental Alliance and other appellants raised questions about the store’s impact on traffic and drainage in the area. The alliance has been active in fighting the proposed Brightwater sewage treatment plant in the same area south of Maltby.

The Costco appeal has since been dropped, however. Corinne Hensley, a spokeswoman for the alliance, said it was becoming overwhelming for the group to pursue the Costco issue while also challenging the Brightwater project.

Monica McLaughlin, a Snohomish County planner handling Costco’s applications, said a grading permit should be issued soon. The county expects to issue a building permit for the new store once it settles right-of-way issues with Costco.