The Boerne Planning and Zoning Commission approved the final Buc-ee’s plat Monday, focusing on the relevance of a traffic-impact analysis and a 9-acre slice of the property being turned over to the city.
Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the design, which now goes to City Council to accept, deny or delay. The project has been dogged by its share of controversy, with many residents over time voicing their objections.
“We wanted the model to match what was going to be out there.”
— Jeff Carroll, Boerne engineering and mobility director
The plat, reviewed by a third-party consultant and the Texas Department of Transportation, contained only minor corrections from previous versions, according to Jeff Carroll, Boerne engineering and mobility director. Carroll told the commission that city administration on Jan. 7 approved the traffic-impact analysis submitted on Buc-ee’s behalf. Changers were minimal, he added.
The popular retailer and gas site famous for clean restrooms and “Beaver Nuggets” will be located at 1 Buc-ee’s Way, a continuation of South Main Street at the Interstate 10 East access road.
Two traffic items of note included reconfigured lanes on the bridge over Interstate 10 leading into what will be Buc-ee’s Way, and traffic-count variances after eliminating four pad sites previously included as potential draws for consumers.
“We wanted the model to match what was going to be out there,” Carroll said.
Commissioners at one point considered tabling the motion so the public could review the newly approved traffic study, but members decide that was not within their scope and moved ahead with the vote.
“City Council would deal with the (traffic-impact analysis),” said Commissioner Bob Cates. “It has nothing to do with approval of the plat. The TIA doesn’t affect our vote. Let’s let City Council deal with those issues, being that is their function.”
P&Z Vice Chairman Lucas Hiler, leading the meeting in Chairman Tim Bannwolf’s absence, said he realized a “sense of pause” as the completed and accepted traffic study represented “a new wrinkle” in the Buc-ee’s discussion for the public.
But he also echoed Cates’ stance.
“I don’t know if it will get us a different outcome,” Hiler said before P&Z voted on the plat. “They aren’t directly related to each other; the outcome won’t be any different.”
Commissioners were told the plat was resubmitted in November, with only minor adjustments needed.
“There’s just minor clarification; it didn’t change any of the outcomes,” Carroll said.
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