We can confidently say, thankfully, no. Costco doesn’t open until 10 a.m., which is well outside the traditional peak hours of school traffic. Furthermore, the principals on the project are investing millions of dollars into the creation of a new road between Kanner Highway and Willoughby Road, which will provide broad traffic relief during peak commute times. 

The Stuart city commissioners recently approved some multifamily apartments after a 10-year period of 2008 to 2018 when no multifamily units were built in all of Martin County. Apartments provide living options to people who are not ready nor able to purchase a home. 

No, that’s not the case. While Costco typically works with general contractors who are familiar with its design patterns to ensure consistency in budgeting and outcomes, those general contractors are empowered—and encouraged—to hire local qualified and insured subcontractors to execute the labor while benefiting the local economy.

Absolutely, and Costco prioritizes doing so as a matter of policy. Costco values diversity and inclusion and recently committed $25 million to the Black Economic Development Fund through its Local Initiatives Support Corp. The company also prioritizes the traits of loyalty, honor, respect, and integrity upheld in the military and often hires veterans.

That’s not the case. In fact, not only does Costco maintain the majority of its workforce at full-time, even part-time employers that regularly fill a minimum number of hours are eligible for healthcare benefits and 401(k). Costco designs its benefits to promote the health and promote the welfare of its employees, and protect their income. The Costco Employee Benefits Program helps pay the costs of covered medically necessary and preventive care expenses. 

Costco offers family and medical leave, paid time off, sick leave, even free executive memberships and relocation support. And its retirement plan includes pre-tax and Roth salary deferral contributions, matching contributions and Costco’s discretionary reimbursements. 

Selected by Indeed.com two years as the best place to work due to its “great benefits, 401(k), vacation pay and overall pay,” Costco hires locally, maintain a 93 percent employee retention rate and proudly invests philanthropically in its host communities. 

Reasons employees give for liking their jobs at Costco include:

• Friendly and supportive work environment
• Costco has a large IT organization (2,000+) which allows room for personal and professional growth and advancement.
• A workplace focused on ethics
• Costco is committed to promoting from within the company. This philosophy ensures promotional opportunities for motivated individuals.

Actually, just the opposite. Costco was specifically founded to serve as a reliable, trusted wholesaler to local small business owners, enabling them to purchase inventory in bulk and benefit from the realized savings. 

Actually, planners of this project met with the owners of Lychee Tree Farm several times and listened to their concerns—even going so far as to completely rewrite their plan and move Costco from its original location to the opposite side of the parcel to ensure that shade from the building didn’t pose any potential hindrance to plants at the nursery. 

In addition, the project principals increased the overall size of the lake systems for enhanced beautification as well as improved hydrological function. As another example of environmental stewardship, the site will include all native vegetation, and 400-foot setbacks were included to ensure pleasing aesthetics.   

Costco is a nationally respected company for enhancing the communities it serves—by the shopping and savings it offers, but also in how hires from the local community, retains its staff, and invests in local charities. The company prides itself on doing the same with its neighborhood design and community integration.