Costco gets commission's OK to build second store in Collier County 

Following a contentious four-hour public hearing of opposition from neighboring residents, Collier County commissioners unanimously approved ordinances Oct. 14 to allow Costco Wholesale to build a new membership warehouse store in East Naples. 

If county staff approves the chain’s site development plans, Costco is targeted to break ground in early 2026 on its 162,671-square-foot big-box store and gas station with 24 fueling positions on the southeast corner of Rattlesnake Hammock Road and Collier Boulevard. The 25-plus acres of undeveloped wooded land is a commercial tract of the Hacienda Lakes mixed-use planned unit development that abuts the northern edge of Physicians Regional Medical Center–Collier Boulevard. 

The county commission unanimously approved two agenda items related to Costco’s proposed development: a zoning resolution granting a waiver from the county land development code’s minimum 500-foot separation of properties with fuel pumps; and an ordinance amendment for an insubstantial change to the PUD regarding county code requirements regarding architectural glazing, building facade massing, light fixture heights, loading zone spaces, landscaping and signage. The approvals follow recommendations by the county’s staff and planning commission. 

Only one of the 60 people who signed up to speak at the meeting’s public hearing spoke in favor of a new Costco. The local resident cited the convenience of not having to drive farther to the busy existing Costco warehouse, which has operated for 25 years on Naples Boulevard in North Naples. 

Many of the residents ceded their 3-minute time to speak so that other community members could pool the additional time to speak as long as 30 minutes in opposition to the store. Residents opposing the store mentioned the site’s proximity to the hospital and residential areas, as well as safety, traffic and flooding concerns. 

Outspoken opposition organizer Frank Cipolla, a full-time resident of the neighboring Esplanade at Hacienda Lakes, said the fight is not over. 

“We are willing, ready and able to seek injunctive relief,” Cipolla said. “This doesn’t end it here. We’re taking this to court.” 

Cipolla argues that Costco should build on another site in East Naples that is less developed. 

“Why does this have to go in that spot? There are a lot of people here who are Costco members; they enjoy going to Costco, but why do we have to jam this round peg into a square hole? It doesn’t make sense,” he said. “East Naples is currently rather undeveloped. There are large stretches of land in places where Costco could go, but it insists on putting this up against a residential community and next to a hospital.” 

The proposed Costco would at least double the 12 fueling positions at the initial Costco in Collier County, with a possibility of more than tripling that number in the future. 

“We have 24 fueling positions and it could go up to 40,” said Costco representative Brad Wester, noting that the PUD does not limit the number of pumps. 

But increasing the number of pumps beyond 12, or 24 fueling positions, would have to be approved by the county commission, the commissioners mandated. The commissioners unanimously approved the waiver for the separation of 500 feet with the understanding that any addition beyond 12 pumps has to come back before the county board. 

In addition to Costco, another 4 acres of commercial lots abutting Collier Boulevard and the proposed Costco still will be developed, but plans have not been proposed yet.