Bay Area Residents Express Concerns Following Gas Station Construction Ban

Residents of Windsor, a town in California’s Bay Area, are reevaluating a recent prohibition on building new gas stations, especially as the prospect of attracting a Costco seems to be slipping away.

Four years ago, Windsor’s town council implemented a regulation forbidding the construction of new gas stations and the expansion of existing ones. However, as economic pressures intensify, there is growing regret over this decision.

In March 2023, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors enacted a similar ordinance, which prohibits new retail gas stations across the county.

“Preventing new gas stations in the unincorporated areas is one of the necessary measures to achieve our climate objectives,” stated Supervisor Chris Coursey, who chairs the Board of Supervisors, according to a release at the time.

Coursey highlighted the potential hazards of gas stations, such as pollution from runoff and soil contamination, emphasizing the need to move away from fossil fuels to effectively combat climate change.

The ban was designed to align with several environmental initiatives, including the Regional Climate Protection Agency’s Sonoma Climate Mobilization Strategy, the county’s Five-Year Strategic Plan, the General Plan, and the climate goals outlined in the 2018 Climate Resolution, as noted in the release.

However, town officials didn’t foresee the 2025-2027 previously approved budget that fell short by $19 million and called for funds to be pulled from reserves, SFGate reported. 

Future shortcomings in funds and budgeting has also teased the need for a 1 percent sales tax measure to be proposed to voters within the year. 

Councilmember Mike Wall suggested that Windsor could consider entertaining the prospect of allowing stores that reach a certain square footage to build ‘for the health of the town,’ the Press Democrat reported. 

The allowance is hopeful of attracting a Costco to the area, as Wall told a meeting last Wednesday: ‘We want to signal to the Costco’s of the world to say we’re open.’

While Costco has not commented on the idea, some council members acknowledged that they have left Windsor to shop at Costco stores outside of the town for lower prices. 

Councilmember Sam Salmon referred to the phenomenon as a ‘retail leakage’ in the town, which has become a growing concern for the financial health of the town. 

‘Can we get a Costco here in Windsor to help us low this leakage? Because it is major,’ Salmon said. 

Wall added: ‘I don’t think we’re looking at potential revenue from gas stations. But gas stations would be the unnecessary evil to have Costco in town, which would generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue.’

While Sonoma County was one of the first to adopt the ordinance banning the creation of new gas stations, it may be one of the earliest to cave. 

Environmentalists, however, are urging town officials to uphold the ban and champion alternatives. 

A Shell gas station in Windsor, California

‘Please take no further action,’ Woody Hastings, a founder of the Coalition Opposing New Gas Stations, told the council on Wednesday. 

‘We need more bikes on the road and less cars.’ 

For now, Costco has made no known plans to move to the area and said in a statement to SFGate: ‘Unfortunately, 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).’

The Daily Mail reached out to the Sonoma County Council Board of Supervisors and Costco for comment.