Novato City Council Votes to Approve Costco Gas Station

At its regular meeting on June 9, 2026, the Novato City Council approved a proposed Costco Gas Station next to the existing Costco warehouse at the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center. The Council's decision followed a public hearing on an appeal of the Planning Commission's April 2026 approval of the project, as well as certification of the project's final Environmental Impact Report.

The gas station includes 14 fuel pumps, allowing up to 28 vehicles to fuel at the same time, and related infrastructure and will serve Costco members. The project also supports the installation of new electric vehicle chargers at Vintage Oaks, ten of which have already been installed. No changes are proposed to the Costco building.

The City Council first approved the gas station in March 2021. Since that approval, City staff have worked with the shopping center to address concerns regarding the loss of about 120 parking spaces due to the project location. To help offset these impacts, the City completed a reconfiguration of Rowland Boulevard behind Vintage Oaks in November 2022, adding 187 parking spaces, as well as a multi-use path, trees along the roadway, and wildlife viewing platforms overlooking the marsh. The cost of these improvements was shared between the City and Vintage Oaks.

"Costco has been a valued member of the Novato business community for many years, serving local residents and contributing to our local economy," said Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Jacobs. "We recognize the environmental concerns that have been raised by members of our community and appreciate the thoughtful engagement throughout this process. This project provides a convenient option for Costco members, supports the continued vitality of the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, and helps retain jobs, spending and sales tax revenue that benefits our community."

As part of the appeal process, Council reviewed the project's environmental impacts and its consistency with the City's policies and long-term goals. The hearing included presentations from City staff, the appellants, and Costco representatives, along with public comment and Council discussion.

Project information: novato.gov/CostcoFuel