costco

Costco Is Suing Pompano Beach Over Its Rejected Store

Local News
October 07, 2026•4 min read

Costco is taking Pompano Beach to court. The company sued in late August, arguing that city commissioners acted unlawfully when they failed to overturn a planning board's rejection of a new store, TAPinto Pompano Beach reported. On Sept. 11, a circuit judge gave the city 30 days to show cause, which puts the deadline at Oct. 11.

The store would go at The Pomp, the 223-acre redevelopment of the old Pompano Park harness track at Powerline Road and Race Track Road. The Cordish Companies and Caesars Entertainment are developing the site, which already has Harrah's casino and Topgolf. Costco's plan calls for a roughly 163,000-square-foot warehouse with a tire center, 16 gas pumps and about 800 parking spaces on an 18.7-acre vacant parcel in the northwest corner.

On paper, the project had a clear path. City planning staff recommended approval with conditions, and two city review committees had already signed off. But in June the Planning and Zoning Board voted 4-3 against it after residents raised concerns about traffic and the size of the store.

Costco appealed to the City Commission. After about four hours of testimony on July 28, commissioners split 3-3, which left the rejection in place. Costco's lawyers argued the record showed the plan met the city's site-plan criteria, and said afterward that a court case was the likely next step.

Most of the opposition comes from Palm Aire, the community across the street. Residents say the store is too big for the location and not what they were told to expect. Several told CBS Miami the site was pitched to them as hotels, an amphitheater and entertainment. Commissioner Audrey Fesik, who voted no, told CBS the store was "oversized for that location."

Supporters see it differently. Commissioner Darlene Smith, who lives in Palm Aire, voted yes and told CBS that Costco brings jobs and worked with the city on the design.

What happens next is up to the court. The city's response is due by Oct. 11.

My take

I don't think this fight is really about Costco. Plenty of people in Pompano would love a newer Costco closer to home. It's about what The Pomp is turning into versus what the neighbors thought they were getting.

The process is the story. City staff said the plan met the rules. Two review committees approved it. Then a 4-3 board vote and a 3-3 commission tie stopped it. When the professionals say yes and the elected officials can't reach a decision, you end up in front of a judge. I'm not a lawyer and I won't predict the ruling, but that gap is why Costco felt confident enough to sue.

The bigger number isn't 163,000 square feet. It's 4,000. That's how many residential units the master plan for The Pomp allows, on top of more than a million square feet each of retail and office. If you live off Powerline Road, traffic is going to change with or without a Costco. The store is just the first piece big enough for everyone to notice.

If you own in Palm Aire, a Costco next door cuts both ways. Some buyers will see a warehouse store, gas and Topgolf a few minutes away as a selling point. Others will see trucks and a line at the pumps. Which one you get depends on where in the community you are. The closer you are to Powerline and Race Track Road, the more this matters to you.

If you're thinking about buying near The Pomp, read the master plan, not the headlines. This area is going to look very different in ten years. That can be a plus for convenience and a minus for your commute at the same time. Know what's approved around you before you commit.

The city has until Oct. 11 to respond, and I'll update you when the judge weighs in. If you want to know what's planned around a home you own or are looking at in Pompano, reply to this email and I'll walk you through it.

Sources

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