After decades of speculation — and yearning from Costco devotees — the city of Asheville has received plans for a store to be built in the Enka Commerce Park, Asheville Watchdog has learned.

“I can confirm that we have a pre-application meeting to the Technical Review Committee scheduled for tomorrow for a proposed Costco on Enka Heritage Parkway,” Will Palmquist, principal planner with the city of Asheville, said via email Tuesday.

Fletcher Partners is the development company that owns and has developed much of the commerce park. Partner Martin Lewis did not respond to a request for comment, but rumors have swirled about a possible Costco at the site for years.

The Watchdog reached out to Costco but did receive a response before publication.

Fletcher Partners bought the 200-acre site in 2008, when the Great Recession hit. The city of Asheville approved site plans, but development was slow to come.

In mid-February, Lewis; officials with Samet Corp., which just completed a large warehouse on the property and has two more buildings planned; and elected city and county officials attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for the warehouse and a bridge leading into the property. The bridge was started nearly a decade ago but just opened last month.

Josh Drye, development manager with the Samet Corp., said at that ceremony that the company plans to start the second spec building when the first is 50 to 75 percent leased. That first building is ready for leasing.

Reached Tuesday, Drye declined to comment on a potential Costco. “That’s not my project,” he said.

Drye referred The Watchdog to Samet’s president of real estate, but he didn’t respond by deadline. 

Plans on file with the city show the Costco situated on a 25-acre site within Enka Commerce Park, with 839 parking spaces. The plans also show the nearby historic Enka clock tower, which Samet has committed to preserving.

Coming before the Technical Review Committee is an early step in a project’s development. The eight-member body consists of six staff, a representative of the Urban Forestry Commission, and a member representing the Buncombe County Metropolitan Sewer District.

“As proposed, the project would require a conditional zoning since it is over 100,000 square feet,” Palmquist said. “After the project is reviewed by the TRC, it would be reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Commission, and their recommendation would be forwarded to City Council for the final decision.”

The TRC was established in 1997 for consideration of site plans, subdivision plats, master plans for Planned Unit Development, plans for conditional use permit or other land development matters consistent with the provisions of the Unified Development Ordinance, according to the city’s website. “The members shall ensure that the proposed project complies with the development requirements and applicable City standards,” the site states. 

Costco has more than 600 stores, or warehouses, in the U.S. The nearest Costco is in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and for years Asheville shoppers have made the 70-mile trek down I-26 to buy groceries in bulk.

This story will be updated.

Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. John Boyle has been covering Asheville and surrounding communities since the 20th century. You can reach him at (828) 337-0941, or via email at jboyle@avlwatchdog.org.  To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.

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