Residents voice concerns about Costco at Penfield town meeting

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Penfield residents spoke out about the latest Costco proposal at Wednesday’s town board meeting.

The Costco development was not on the town’s agenda on Wednesday, but some residents raised concerns about the project’s mixed-use development and traffic.

“If we want Rt. 250 to become like Empire Boulevard and backed up a lot and to have a lot of traffic there, that’s really what I think would happen,” said resident Jeff Burns.

“The dominance of such a big, big, big entity largely dwarfs whatever is going to be around it. Unless there is a clearly thought-out, planned out, and committed set of action plans to really recruit smaller retailers, medical offices, community organizations, coffee shops, you name it. The things that create that true sense of community in a mixed-use development, then it’s basically a Costco with a bunch of apartments around it.”

The possibility of the Costco mixed-use development on Rt. 250 and Sweets Corners Road was announced earlier in the month. If approved, this would be the second Costco in the Greater Rochester Area. The only one is the location in Brighton.

Residents shared mixed feelings about the proposal. Some are excited, but others are worried about Penfield’s rural community becoming more commercial.

The Town of Penfield will be posting more information about the project on its website on July 24. Penfield Town Hall will hold a public hearing on August 8.

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