A planning oversight committee gave tentative approval to a large display sign for Costco Wholesale, slated to open next to Tampa Premium Outlets.
It takes the membership warehouse chain a step closer to permitting and construction. Company officials have not announced an opening date.
Costco received approval in January for the sale of beer, wine and liquor.
The approximately 153,000-square-foot warehouse building will have a separate liquor store of about 2,100 square feet.
Architect Doug Brookbank, principal at MG2 Global, represented the company at the Jan. 25 hearing at the county’s Development Review Committee. Committee members review recommendations from the county’s planning department.
The Pasco County Commission will have the final say.
Costco officials asked to increase the sign’s size from about 600 square feet to about 1,700 square feet.
In return for the larger sign, the company would forego installing nine smaller signs that met county requirements.
If the larger sign were approved, the overall sign space would be reduced by 35 percent.
“We believe this is not unreasonable considering the size of the structure (warehouse) itself,” said Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning manager.
Costco would join a cluster of new retail either already opened or under construction, off State Road 56 at Interstate 75.
Tampa Premium Outlets opened in October with nearly a 100 outlet stores including Nike, Coach, Tommy Hilfiger and Fossil.
Culver’s restaurant and Cheddar’s Casual Café are under construction. Chick-Fil-A, Kohl’s, Panda Express, and BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse also are planned as part of Cypress Creek Town Center.
Published February 10, 2016
