Novato approves Costco gas station at Vintage Oaks after appeal

Costco’s planned fuel station at Vintage Oaks cleared its last local hurdle on June 9, opening the door to a bigger member-only gas operation that could change how the adjacent warehouse moves people, cars and shifts. The Novato City Council approved the project after hearing an appeal of the Planning Commission’s April 2026 decision and certifying the final environmental impact report.

The fuel facility will go at 300 Vintage Way in the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, west of the existing Costco warehouse. The project covers about 1 to 1.15 acres and calls for an approximately 10,000-square-foot canopy over 14 fuel dispensers, creating 28 fueling positions. It also includes three 40,000-gallon gasoline underground storage tanks, a 1,500-gallon additive tank, a controller enclosure, a vapor processor unit and other site improvements. No changes are planned for the Costco building itself.

For workers inside the warehouse, the most immediate effect is likely to be outside the building. A larger fuel operation usually means more cars circling the property, more pressure on parking and tighter traffic flow at peak hours, especially for front-end crews, lot attendants and managers trying to keep entrances, exits and cart areas moving. Even though the station is for Costco members only, not the general public, the added fuel volume could still spill into the rhythms of the warehouse next door, from opening rushes to weekend congestion.

The city and shopping center have been working around the loss of about 120 parking spaces tied to the project. As mitigation, the city completed a reconfiguration of Rowland Boulevard behind Vintage Oaks in November 2022, adding 187 spaces along with a multi-use path, trees and wildlife viewing platforms overlooking the marsh. City officials also said the project supports new electric vehicle charging at the center, where 10 chargers had already been installed.

This approval also closes a long loop in Novato’s review of the project. The city first approved the Costco gas station in March 2021, but that decision was later set aside after a legal challenge. At Monday’s meeting, city staff, the appellants and Costco representatives all presented before the council, followed by public comment and discussion.

Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Jacobs backed the project, saying Costco has been a valued part of Novato’s business community for many years and arguing that the fuel station would benefit local convenience, the shopping center, jobs, spending and sales tax revenue. He also acknowledged the environmental concerns raised by residents, a reminder that the same project likely to draw more members and more volume will also demand tighter management of traffic, parking and day-to-day operations around the warehouse.