Get ready to grab some Beaver Nuggets because Buc-ee’s is coming to town.
That was the message sent Monday by the City Council after a 4-0 vote cleared the way for development following years of back-and-forth on whether to allow the iconic gas stop known for its buck-toothed beaver mascot, brisket and clean restrooms to set up shop.
The amended agreement approved by the council includes a limit on the number of fueling stations and the height of signage, a 9-acre buffer zone and security fencing, a 350-foot deceleration lane and dark-sky compliance –– among other concessions.
“I have lived with this project for a decade,” said District 5 Councilman Joe Macaluso, a chief negotiator between the city and the company. “Every item on this list are things I have repeatedly, repeatedly, repeatedly brought up to city administration, staff, city management, city attorneys, other City Council members, and directly to Buc-ee’s.”
He added, “Buc-ee’s is owned by one person. There’s no board of directors or shareholders. There’s ‘Mr. Buc-ee,’ (Arch) Aplin. He and he alone decides what he will and will not agree to do. In that context is how we’ve had to work this agreement.” The store, which does not permit tractor-trailer rigs except servicing Buc-ee’s, will be located on Interstate 10 West at U.S. 87 and is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027.
For months, several Boerne residents have hammered the council with objections to the project — many of which were dealt with during online negotiations.
Points of the amended agreement include:
• Buc-ee’s will have no more than 100 fueling stations, which means 50 pumps, as each pump has two points to deliver petrol. There will be at least 26 electric-vehicle charging stations as well.
• A reduction of primary signage to 60 feet, from 75 feet agreed to in the original 2016 agreement.
• At least 9 acres of dedicated open space and an 8-foot security fence along the rear of the property line.
• 18-wheelers are prohibited, except for those providing gas and goods to Buc-ee’s.
• Sight lighting plan with dark-sky compliant fixtures, also alleviating light trespass from surrounding properties.
• No more than 54,000 square-feet of building space.
• Heating-ventilation-air-conditioning condensate recovery and irrigation system, expected to supply Buc-ee’s irrigation needs.
“These updates (to the agreement) … strengthen the design standards,” said Assistant City Manager Kristy Stark.
She thanked the Buc-ee’s team for its willingness to negotiate and alter several of the sticking points.
“The manner in which they have worked on this, there was never a ‘no.’ It was always, ‘Let’s see what we can figure out,’” Stark said.
Mayor Frank Ritchie addressed residents’ concerns.
“We sit up here twice a month and listen to the public comments. We take those to heart,” Ritchie said. “But we listened, and we went to Buc-ee’s ... and did a lot of negotiating, which they really didn’t have to do for us.”
From the original agreement which began in 2016 and 2017 to where the city stands now, Ritchie said, “I think it’s heads and tails an improvement for our community. I just want to thank everybody, Dr. Mac (Macaluso) especially, and thank everybody involved — and thank Buc-ee’s for coming to the table, willingly — for being there and doing that.”
Other items added to the agreement include a confirmation of 200 jobs, about 30 more than previously committed; enhanced landscaping and planting areas; an addition of up to 5 more acres of green space; and Buc-ee’s being responsible for the expense of installing underground electric cables along Buc-ee’s Way, the name of the street that will feed off South Main Street into the property once it crosses the bridge over Interstate 10.
District 4 Councilman Bret Bunker doubled down on listening to public concerns and expressed his surprise at the concessions Buc-ee’s eventually approved.
“We’ve been listening to every single person who’s come up to our council meetings,” Bunker said. “Buc-ee’s had an agreement; they didn’t come to us with anything.”
He acknowledged Buc-ee’s wanting to be a good partner with the city by agreeing to the concessions.
“We got the sign lowered which, honestly, if you would have asked me two weeks ago if that was ever going to happen, I would’ve said, ‘No way, they have their permit. There’s nothing we can do about it, that ship sailed,’” he added.
Even though the council approved the amended development agreement, there’s still more work to do — Buc-ee’s must submit a traffic-impact analysis..
Jeff Carroll, city engineering and mobility director, said the city provided Buc-ee’s with additional recommendations last week and is expecting a response soon.
“On their TIA, they’re getting very close, they have some minor modifications to model,” Carroll said. “Most of the major improvements for the project have already been built ... (The Texas Department of Transportation) improved this bridge location, knowing Bucee’s was coming.”
“There was never a ‘no.’ It was always, ‘Let’s see what we can figure out.’”
— Assistant City Manager Kristy Stark
Comment
Comments