Midtown Costco business center gets hearing Wednesday at City Hall amid public outcry
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- The city plan commission is scheduled to stage a public hearing Wednesday at City Hall.
- Costco seeks zoning approval for outdoor storage and a fenced area with 25 truck stalls.
- City staff recommend approval with conditions while many council members and residents.
Amid public outcry, Kansas City planning officials are scheduled on Wednesday to discuss requested zoning changes related to Costco’s planned conversion of its midtown store into a business center.
The proposed business center, at the 241 E. Linwood Blvd. store, would be geared toward providing products, equipment and services to other businesses for resale but would remain open to all Costco members.
The gas station would remain, and officials have said grocery offerings would actually expand, but other products and services like clothing, the food court, the pharmacy, the bakery and liquor would go away.
The city’s plan commission is scheduled to stage a public hearing to consider the request on Wednesday, according to the commission’s agenda.
While City Plan Commission meetings start at 9 a.m. at City Hall, the Costco case will not be heard before 11:30 a.m., according to the agenda.
Midtown Costco business conversion
Costco is asking the city for approval to allow outdoor storage as part of the property’s zoning plan. The change would allow Costco to add a fenced-in parking area for 25 truck stalls.
“The additional use is being proposed to aid the transition of the site from a Costco Retail Store to a Costco Business Center,” a city report says.
But the city’s review is focused on the zoning and site plan updates, not how the company conducts its business and retail sales inside the store.
The plan commission could make a recommendation to the City Council, which would have final approval.
City position on Costco business center
City staff are recommending approval, with various conditions related to landscaping, signage, lighting, pedestrian and fire department access and other items.
Nearly every member of the City Council signed a letter expressing concern about how the conversion could impact jobs and residents who rely on the services the warehouse store provides.
Their letter echoed many residents who — in letters to the city, interviews, social media posts and a public meeting earlier this month — have said they are worried about losing access to services at the store like the pharmacy, optician and various types of merchandise.
This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 3:41 PM.