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David Benda
Redding Record Searchlight
Published 11:00 AM EDT Apr 18, 2020
Costco’s plan to relocate its store in Redding is moving forward after the coronavirus pandemic cast uncertainty on the project’s immediate future last month.
The Redding Planning Commission will meet April 28 to recommend certification of the final environmental impact report and approval of the River Crossing MarketPlace, the proposed shopping center on the northeast corner of South Bonnyview Road and Bechelli Lane that a new Costco would anchor.
The new date comes after the city — amid the health crisis — postponed the March 24 planning commission meeting.
The public and Costco company and project representatives will not be allowed in the meeting chambers due to the coronavirus pandemic, so the 4 p.m. meeting will be virtual.
That doesn’t mean the public won’t be able to chime in. More information on how to watch and participate is available at https://www.cityofredding.org/departments/development-services/planning.
“There will be at least the commission chair and staff in the council chambers,” Redding Planning Manager Lily Toy said.
All emails received by the Planning Department before noon the day of the meeting will be forwarded to the commission. Public comments via email can continue to be sent after that time and during the meeting. Commission chair Bert Meyer then will announce the time to submit emails has closed and commissioners will recess to read the comments before reconvening.
Meeting virtually became necessary after the Redding City Council earlier this month closed its chambers to the public because of the coronavirus.
“So rather than have city’s planning department applications on hold for who knows how long, it’s been decided it’s best to get the applications moving and getting the answers the applicants need, not just Costco,” said Kent Manuel, the city’s special projects manager.
In addition to Costco, there are three tentative subdivision map extensions on the April 28 agenda.
Costco’s plan to relocate from Dana Drive and build a larger store with gas pumps on freeway frontage property in south Redding has been in the works since 2016, when it walked away from Oasis Road in north Redding after years of planning to relocate there.
The proposed South Bonnyview-Bechelli site has faced a stiff challenge from the Bonnyview Bechelli Coalition, a group of neighbors who through their attorney has managed to hold up the project to this point.
Costco is aware of what’s at stake.
The big-box warehouse earlier this year emailed customers encouraging them to voice their support to the city.
On Friday, a table was set up inside the Dana Drive store showing a picture of the new Costco store. There also were comment cards that customers could fill out.
After the April 28 Planning Commission meeting, the project would go to the City Council for final approval on May 19.
Stay tuned.
Limited air service in Redding continues
United Airlines will continue to offer just one flight a day from Redding to San Francisco at least through May.
And when service to Los Angeles will start again is anybody’s guess.
Air service in Redding, like every community in the county, has been dramatically affected by the coronavirus. United announced in late March it would offer one flight a day to SFO, down from three, and suspend flights to LAX. Its regular schedule to San Francisco was supposed to resume April 15.
And starting May 4, the flight to SFO will leave Redding at 8:05 a.m. and the return flight will arrive at 6:54 p.m., Redding Airports Manager Jim Wadleigh said. Right now, the flight departs at 6:15 a.m. and returns to Redding at 11:47 p.m.
SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express, will continue to fly 70-seat regional jets, which have been flying with plenty of empty seats. Wednesday’s flight to San Francisco had 17 passengers. There were five people on the plane coming back, Wadleigh said.
Meanwhile, USA TODAY reported that United President Scott Kirby “laid out a doom-and-gloom scenario in a presentation to investors on Tuesday” about the coronavirus pandemic.
“In a memo to employees late Sunday, Kirby and United CEO Oscar Munoz said the airline will cut flights by 50 percent in April and May and extend cuts into the peak summer travel season,” the story said.
Save Mart opening delayed
Scheduled to open next month, the new Save Mart grocery store’s grand opening in Redding has been pushed to mid-summer due to the coronavirus, the company told me earlier this week.
“We are committed to providing our customers a safe and remarkable shopping experience. In light of the current circumstances, we have made the decision to move our grand opening date to mid-summer to better serve the Redding community,” The Save Mart Companies spokeswoman Victoria Castro said in an email.
Save Mart will anchor Churn Creek MarketPlace east of Interstate 5 off South Bonnyview Road. Work also has started on the Ross Dress For Less, which will be next to Save Mart.
Churn Creek MarketPlace also will feature a Less Schwab Tire Center at the north end of the shopping center.
Already open in the center are In-N-Out Burger, Panda Express and an ARCO station.
READ MORE BUZZ:
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- Riverfront Playhouse to stage first play in new theater this summer
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David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-225-8219. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
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