LS Costco: Lawsuit seeks to halt development

Community group Liveable Lake Stevens is challenging an Army Corps of Engineers ruling that resulted in the filling of several wetlands

Liveable Lake Stevens graphic protesting the new Costco development. Courtesy of Change.org

Supporters of the new Costco point to the creation 275 new Lake Stevens-based jobs, paying an average of around $24 an hour. Local government is motivated by the prospect of Costco bringing in millions of dollars in new tax revenue, boosting City of Lake Stevens coffers. And Lake Stevens citizens in favor of the development say they’d rather shop in a Lake Stevens Costco as opposed to sending the jobs, revenue and vehicle trips across the trestle to Everett.

But a lawsuit filed by local group Liveable Lake Stevens may delay the construction of Lake Stevens’ new Costco —however opponents say that the lawsuit also likely represents their last chance at halting the new Costco development, which they say will damage the environment and increase local traffic.

At the root of the recently-filed lawsuit are several wetlands near the Costco site at S. 24th Street and S. Lake Stevens Road. The wetlands were filled in during site preparation after the Army Corps of Engineers issued a no impact ruling, with regard to the environmental impact.