Residents of a charming city in the San Francisco Bay Area are up in arms over a proposed construction of a large Costco gas station in their community. The plan, which involves a 14-dispenser, 28-pump facility adjacent to the current Costco in Novato, about 30 miles from San Francisco, has sparked significant environmental concerns among locals.

Critics of the project argue that the gas station’s location is precariously close to sensitive wetlands and in the vicinity of a pediatric clinic, raising alarms about potential environmental and health impacts.

At a planning commission meeting held on Monday, community members voiced strong opposition, arguing that the gas station contradicts Novato’s climate goals.

“This project fundamentally conflicts with Novato’s established climate policies, and the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) fails to address this inconsistency,” stated Pablo Downer Paster, chair of Novato’s Sustainability Commission, speaking independently during the session.

‘This project is fundamentally inconsistent with Novato’s adopted climate policies and the draft EIR fails to analyze that conflict,’ Pablo Downer Paster, chair of Novato’s Sustainability Commission, who spoke on his own behalf, said at the meeting.

‘A station designed to pump millions of gallons of gasoline, year after year, will produce tens of thousands of tons of CO2 that directly conflicts with the climate action plan that I helped write and with state mandates.’

The gas station project was first proposed in 2020 but has been heavily delayed by legal challenges.

Novato made a climate emergency declaration that same year, then placed a ban on new gas stations in 2022, according to SF Gate.

Residents of Novato, California (pictured) are divided over plans to build a Costco gas station in the San Francisco Bay Area town

The city’s planning commission approved a draft Environmental Impact Report (ERI) for plans of a 14-dispenser, 28-pump facility built next to the existing Costco in Novato (pictured)

In September, the city council even adopted a Climate Action Plan, which pledges to ’emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030′.

However, locals accused the city council of allowing the Costco gas station plan to be followed through because they want the tax revenue.

‘Just because it is grandfathered doesn’t mean that it is climate consistent,’ Paster said.

During Monday’s hearing, locals heavily criticized the draft Environmental Impact Report (ERI) for the project after it claimed the gas station would have ‘no significant and unavoidable environmental impacts’.

Julia Janeway, a Novato public high school teacher, mentioned that the gas station would be close to a pediatric clinic.

‘The idea of exposing sick children and families to a constant stream of toxic fumes is reckless,’ she said.

Janeway also noted that Costco’s leak detection is flawed, adding, ‘[It] would only be 95 percent effective, resulting in a meaningful probability of an undetected leak.’

Nan Farley, the treasurer of the local climate activism group 350Marin, pointed out that the state has an electric vehicle mandate that is currently facing legal challenges.

Pablo Downer Paster, chair of Novato’s Sustainability Commission, said the proposal is inconsistent with the city’s environmental initiatives 

Novato public high school teacher Julia Janeway said the proposed location is dangerous because it is near a pediatric clinic

‘What’s an appropriate amount to invest in something that will become useless later?’ Farley said.

‘How do you calculate what is an acceptable amount to poison our plants, animals and children?’

The Planning Commission ultimately voted to accept the draft EIR and told staff to prepare a final version.

It is not clear when the final version is due, but then the commission will vote on the final draft and make a final design review decision before construction starts.

Daily Mail contacted the city council and Costco for comment.