Many Villagers are eagerly anticipating the opening next month of the long-awaited Costco store.
For years, residents have hoped and prayed and petitioned for the arrival of the wholesaler. The day will finally arrive on Aug. 6 at Buffalo Ridge Plaza.
Meanwhile, other Villagers are dreading the traffic that will spill over onto their streets and disrupt their daily lives.
“Costco is a dream come true for many Villagers, but a nightmare for others,” acknowledged Community Development District 5 Board of Supervisors Chairman Gary Kadow.
While the Community Development District 3 Board of Supervisors and the Sumter County Commission have fielded the greatest number of complaints about the impending Costco traffic, CDD 5 – which includes Ashland, Belvedere, Bonnybrook, Liberty Park, Lynnhaven, Poinciana, Sunset Pointe and Winifred – is also hearing from its residents.
Edward Martin has lived in the Village of Bonnybrook for 21 years. He appeared before the CDD 5 board this past week and said more traffic control devices, including speed limit signs and stop signs on Belvedere Boulevard. He said Belvedere Boulevard will be picking up a great deal of traffic with Villagers looking for an inside path to get to and from Costco.
His street connects to Belvedere Boulevard and is not far from the Village of Bonnybrook entrance gate.
“When they come out of that gate, they come out like it’s a horse race. Somebody is going to get killed or seriously hurt,” Martin warned.
Supervisor Mark Schweikert agreed with Martin’s assessment, but said he believes Costco will have a much broader impact.
“Belvedere is going to be a part of the problem, but Costco is going to bring more traffic problems. All of County Road 466 will be impacted,” Schweikert said.