Another Costco will arrive near Houston very soon as city council carried the vote to allow the development of a Costco inside of their extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).

As a part of Mayor Parker’s 380 program which is set up to bring businesses into the Houston proper limits to stimulate economic growth, Costco will become the newest business to join in.

All members of city council did not find this agreement a good move as At-Large Position 2 city councilmember Andrew Burks and Vice Mayor Pro-Tem C.O. Bradford both voted no on the deal.

For Burks veterans weighed heavily as the issue why he voted not to enter into an incentive deal with Costco. As a veteran, Burks stated he has a problem when he knows veterans are out looking for jobs or work and it seems like they are not playing on a level field.

“What I ask for with Costco is to go to a system in which the federal government uses for hiring veterans, not employment just an application,” said Burks.

Councilmember Burks addressed his colleagues and said he resents how regardless of what is said in council the contract is final and nothing can be added to it such as the veteran or summer job programs incentive in order to enter into the agreement.

“I was duly elected to work for the citizens of Houston and when it comes to someone on the outside not elected in my place making deals and then telling me we can’t do anything or add or take away but they need my approval and our approval to do it; I think its wrong, therefore I’m going to vote no,” said Burks.

Mayor Parker added after Burks comments that the item came before council in May which gave council members such as At- Large Position 3 City Councilwoman Melissa Noriega time to meet with the administration repeatedly to learn more about the issue.

Costco had many locations they were scouting to develop. The location for the Costco will not be inside Houston city limits but north of Interstate-10 yet it will still be in the ETJ.

Full story inside the The Houston Sun Newspaper.