The project is also slated to include about 30,000 square feet of mixed-use retail and restaurant usage and a five-level, 700-space parking garage between the apartments and Costco specifically for the apartment residents' use.
About 10 residents spoke during public comment, all but one in favor of the project. Huntington Beach resident and business owner Dave Weigel asked the commission to support the project and to avoid putting too many restrictions on the developer.
"Not only will the new Costco generate hundreds of badly needed new jobs and millions of dollars in sales and property taxes, but it will also provide goods and services to our local community that are currently only available … in Fountain Valley and Cypress, which are well over half hour away in traffic," he said.
Another resident brought up concerns about what the project would do on the already congested Beach Boulevard and Edinger Avenue.
"There seems to be an elephant in the room that only [commissioner Fred Speaker] has alluded to briefly — traffic, traffic, traffic," he told the commission. "It's going to be a mess."
The project would be built on the existing Montgomery Ward and Mervyn's buildings and adjacent retail space, which would be demolished.
The Costco would be open 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. The gas station is proposed to be open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Costco is expected to open in the 2011 holiday season.
