Costco coming to Manatee County? Speculation is heating up

Ground finally has been broken for The Landings at Heritage Harbour, a 264,987-square-foot retail development that has been on the drawing board since 2007.

Speculation about the project has been running rampant since earth-moving machinery recently cleared the 100-acre parcel west of Grand Harbour Parkway and north of State Road 64.

Topping the speculation of what might anchor The Landings: Costco.

Residents and local elected leaders say that’s what they’re hearing, including County Commissioner Priscilla Whisenant Trace, as well as supervisors for the Heritage Harbour South Community Development District.

And Costco will neither confirm nor deny that it plans to open one of its membership warehouse clubs at Heritage Harbour.

“We do not know if it is a Costco,” Trace said, with others echoing her. “Everyone basically is wanting to make sure that we keep an eye on erosion, and that we protect the wildlife on that property. Most of the people have said they are not against development. They just want to make sure the property is properly developed.”

The closest Costco locations to Bradenton are at 8201 South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota and at 10921 Causeway Blvd. in Brandon.

“Unfortunately, it is our company policy to not comment regarding future Costco warehouses until we are ready to share details about the new location (usually 2-3 months in advance),” a company representative told the Bradenton Herald in an e-mail this week.

John Barnott, director of Building and Development Services for Manatee County Government, said that beyond the developer having final site plan approval for the site, his office has not been told what is planned for the site.

The county recently granted LNR Heritage Harbour LLLP of Newport Beach, Calif., an extension until April 17 to get the project started. A call to the developer about what is planned for The Landings was not immediately returned.

Ground breaking at The Landings is a reflection of the growth and development of the area, said Mike Snipes, a Lakewood Ranch resident who is an economics instructor at USF Sarasota-Manatee.

“The location makes sense. It is where all the growth is. You need the infrastructure and growth to support it. You have the new diverging diamond being built nearby,” Snipes said.

Costco, which touts quality, brand-name merchandise, sells everything from groceries to electronics, furniture, auto products, clothing and office supplies.

Its stores range in size from 73,000 to 205,000 square feet, with an average of 144,500 square feet.

John Musson, a resident of Heritage Harbour, has heard Costco is coming.

Whatever is going into The Landings will bring economic progress and jobs, Musson said.

“But they just took out a complete buffer,” Musson said. “Let’s hope the county can reassure the residents that the buffer will be replaced beside Beacon lake.”

This story was originally published February 21, 2018 at 2:05 PM with the headline "Costco coming to Manatee County? Speculation is heating up."