{"id":146,"date":"2026-05-13T23:32:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T23:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sanfranciscomovingguide.com\/?p=146"},"modified":"2026-05-13T23:32:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T23:32:40","slug":"progressive-values-and-costco-dreams-collide-in-a-wealthy-bay-area-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanfranciscomovingguide.com\/?p=146","title":{"rendered":"Progressive values and Costco dreams collide in a wealthy Bay Area town"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Officials from the town of Windsor are now considering whether to loosen the town\u2019s ban on new gas stations. Several lawmakers in a recent town council discussion openly framed it as a way to attract Costco\u00a0to\u00a0Sonoma County\u2019s northern corridor.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/sanfranciscomovingguide.com\/?p=144\">Two bodies found in underground vault in downtown Fresno<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"x1px y1px vh abs\" height=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-channels-pixel.ex.co\/events\/0012000001fxZm9AAE?integrationType=DEFAULT&amp;template=design%2Farticle%2Fplatypus_two_column.tpl\" width=\"1\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cWe want to signal to the Costcos of the world to say we\u2019re open,\u201d council member Mike Wall said during the meeting last Wednesday, according to the Press Democrat.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The discussion centered on Windsor\u2019s nearly four-year-old ordinance prohibiting new or expanded gas stations, part of a broader regional climate strategy adopted by several North Bay municipalities in recent years to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Wall suggested that the town could consider an exemption for stores above a certain square footage threshold \u201cfor the health of the town,\u201d the Press Democrat reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Costco itself is staying quiet on the possibility.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cUnfortunately, it is our company policy to not comment regarding future Costco warehouses until we are ready to share details about the new location (usually 2-3 months in advance),\u201d a Costco spokesperson told SFGATE via email.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Wall did not immediately return SFGATE\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The conversation comes as the wealthy town of Windsor faces mounting budget pressure, according to the Press Democrat. Town officials previously approved a 2025-27 budget that included a $19 million shortfall and required them to tap into reserves to close the gap. The town is also projecting future deficits in upcoming budget cycles and has discussed the possibility of placing a 1% sales tax measure before voters later this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Council member Sam Salmon said Windsor\u2019s \u201cretail leakage,\u201d referring to residents spending money and paying taxes to other towns, has become a growing concern.\u00a0Salmon added: \u201cCan we get a Costco here in Windsor to help us lower this leakage? Because it is major.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Some council members acknowledged they personally shop at Costco stores outside Windsor, citing lower gas prices and bulk goods, the Press Democrat reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/sanfranciscomovingguide.com\/?p=142\">Dueling Calif. Democrats battle to unseat longtime GOP incumbent<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019re looking at potential revenue from gas stations,\u201d Wall said. \u201cBut gas stations would be the unnecessary evil to have Costco in town, which would generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The proposal would mark a notable shift for Windsor, which was early among a wave of cities in Sonoma and Napa counties to adopt bans on new gas stations in recent years. Environmental advocates urged council members not to weaken the ordinance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cPlease take no further action,\u201d Woody Hastings, a founder of the Coalition Opposing New Gas Stations, told the council. \u201cWe need more bikes on the road and less cars.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Whether Costco is actually planning a Windsor location remains unclear. Sonoma County currently has Costco warehouses in Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park. Additional North Bay locations operate in Novato, Ukiah and Napa.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>More News<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u2014 Coca-Cola to shut down California plant after 114 years<br \/>\u2014 Two bodies found in underground vault in downtown Fresno<br \/>\u2014 &#8216;Very contagious&#8217; parvovirus found throughout Northern Calif.<br \/>\u2014 3 straight polls show once-flailing Democrat now front-runner<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/sanfranciscomovingguide.com\/?p=140\">World\u2019s oldest oak secures protection from giant California development<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><em>Sign up for\u00a0daily SFGATE breaking news alerts here.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last week, Windsor officials debated overturning a ban on new gas stations to potentially lure a Costco to the area, the Press Democrat reported.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":145,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - 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AUGUST 24: The bedroom community of Windsor, located in the Russian River Valley north of Santa Rosa, encroaches on prime vineyard land as viewed from the air on August 24, 2014, near Healdsburg, California. 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