Economic Group Opposes Proposed Costco at Enka Commerce Park

The county’s leading economic development organization moved this week to block a proposed Costco store in Enka Commerce Park, arguing the rezoning would harm Asheville’s longer term economic prospects. The application from Costco seeks conditional zoning approval for a store footprint on 25 acres with 839 parking spaces. Costco representatives were in town to meet with city officials about the project and councilmember Bo Hess has indicated the proposal will be placed on the January council agenda after additional discussions.

EDC executive director Clark Duncan wrote that rezoning the park for a big box retailer is not in Asheville’s best long term interest, noting that manufacturing typically pays higher wages than retail and that the park is planned and zoned for industrial buildings that would generate greater tax value. Duncan cited labor market data from Lightcast and county tax figures to compare average manufacturing wages with retail wages and to contrast projected assessed values of industrial uses against retail development at the site.

Costco supplied a company fact sheet detailing pay and benefits for typical entry level and skilled roles. The fact sheet shows wage ranges from about $20 to $30.20 per hour for service assistants, $21 to $31.90 per hour for service clerks, and $21.50 to $33.40 per hour for meat cutter roles. The company says a store typically employs about 300 workers and that long term employees become eligible for bonuses and an array of benefits.

Local commercial real estate sources underscore the practical attraction of the Enka site, pointing to the need for roughly 25 acres near an interstate interchange and the metro area’s limited flat land, steep terrain and scarcity of comparable parcels. Those supply constraints have heightened the debate between preserving one of the city’s last potential industrial sites and meeting local demand for more grocery and retail options.

For residents and local officials the dispute centers on jobs, tax revenue and land use strategy. City planning staff will continue conversations with Costco and stakeholders as the council prepares for a January discussion that could determine whether this parcel remains set aside for industrial development or shifts to large scale retail.