Plan commission grants preliminary approval for Costco employee parking lot, with waiver to be completed before final

The Maryville Plan Commission granted preliminary approval by roll call for a proposed off‑site Costco employee parking lot on roughly 1.968 acres, contingent on completion of a waiver‑and‑release agreement before final approval.

A petitioner representative described an approximately 152‑space lot on the south side of 79th Avenue and a signalized HAWK crosswalk to allow employees to cross to the warehouse. "Our employees will actually push a button and the red lights will flash and then stop," the applicant said, describing a pedestrian‑activated stop signal rather than a flashing caution device.

Commissioners asked about enforcement if drivers ran the signal, signage limiting the lot to employees, shuttle plans for employees with mobility limitations, and paving and lighting details. Staff read a report noting the lot will use private stormwater conveyance and an underground detention system and that the project had been tabled previously until indemnification or waiver terms were agreed.

Sean Pettit moved to approve the preliminary subdivision (P1PS1‑0126); Brian Dearing seconded. A roll‑call vote recorded seven ayes and the commission approved preliminary status. The town attorney and staff said final approval would be conditioned on execution of the waiver‑and‑release agreement and completion of final engineering work.

The petitioner estimated construction would start in mid‑June and take roughly two months; the applicant gave a ballpark cost of more than $2 million for the parking lot. The commission scheduled engineering and legal checks to be completed before a final approval hearing.