Buc-ee’s proposal for second Colorado store near Palmer Lake sparks community pushback, lawsuit

Colorado’s first Buc-ee’s — a Texas-based comfort retailer and gasoline station chain recognized for its barbecue, store-brand snacks and pleased beaver brand — was greeted in March with fanfare and lengthy strains in Johnstown on Interstate 25 about 50 miles north of Denver.

A proposal to construct the state’s second Buc-ee’s alongside I-25 close to Palmer Lake, south of Denver in El Paso County, has prompted a special response. The request for the city to annex about 36 acres on the freeway’s interchange with County Line Highway has sparked a lawsuit by Integrity Issues, a nonprofit watchdog group based mostly in Colorado Springs, a name for the legal professional common to become involved and an organized media blitz opposing the transfer by a bunch of residents within the city and neighboring communities.

The residents against the Buc-ee’s fear about how it will influence the encompassing space, from site visitors congestion to straining the city’s infrastructure. Critics The Publish have spoken to additionally say the city hasn’t been clear all through the method.

The city, however, has publicly pushed again and stated it has adopted correct process.

At a gathering on Dec. 12, the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees voted 4-1 to approve Buc-ee’s eligibility to annex land for its proposed location in El Paso County. Whereas the choice doesn’t affirm the event, it paves the best way for Buc-ee’s to use for annexation.

“To me, it looks like it solely is smart to maneuver ahead to be able to acquire the entire data that’s wanted to make an correct, educated determination concerning the annexation,” stated Palmer Lake Board trustee Shana Ball at that assembly.

“We are able to’t get any additional data with out approving this primary step.”

Mayor Glant Havenar and Trustee Jessica Farr weren’t current in final month’s assembly.

The outcry main as much as that assembly had grown so loud that police had been checking IDs and solely permitting Palmer Lake residents within city corridor.

A part of a information launch the city put out the day of the assembly stated, “Whereas the Board is open to feedback from any member of the general public associated to this concern, since it’s a proposed annexation to the City of Palmer Lake, the Board is especially inquisitive about and desires to have the ability to readily distinguish feedback by Palmer Lake electors, Palmer Lake companies, and Palmer Lake property house owners.”

Trina Shook, a Monument space resident since 2003 and a enterprise proprietor in Palmer Lake, opposes constructing the Buc-ee’s within the proposed location.

She went to the Dec. 12 city corridor assembly and was requested for her ID, and ended up among the many group of individuals not allowed inside.

“There have been in all probability a great 50 of us that had been standing outdoors,” she stated. “After they weren’t allowed to go in, a number of individuals, particularly the aged individuals, walked away. They weren’t pleased.”

Shook stated she stood outdoors within the chilly with others for over an hour, listening to the assembly on a speaker, earlier than she was allowed inside.

“Once I went inside, there have been empty seats. There was loads of standing room,” she stated.

The way in which the assembly was carried out left some residents feeling that the board’s determination to maneuver ahead with the annexation was rushed, resulting in a criticism being filed with the workplace of Colorado Lawyer Common Phil Weiser.

The Publish reached out to the legal professional common’s workplace and a spokesperson acknowledged, “It is a native authorities matter and I like to recommend that you simply contact native officers.”

In conversations with a number of residents, social media posts and paperwork reviewed by The Publish, the checklist of issues concerning the annexation embody the potential environmental and wildlife influence, site visitors congestion alongside roads like Beacon Lite Highway and Monument Hill, Buc-ee’s water utilization, insufficient infrastructure, the lack of a small mountain city really feel, pressure on first-responder sources, youngster security and rising tensions with neighboring cities.

“Lots of people really which can be towards this love Buc-ee’s,” Palmer Lake resident Dailee Fagnant stated. “I talked to lots of people and so they’re like, ‘We’d like to see a Buc-ee’s nearer to our home, however that is simply the unsuitable space.’ ”

On the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 10, the mayor and board of trustees launched an announcement addressing the pushback. “The Board’s basic curiosity was to conduct a secure, open, and non-intimidating listening to, in compliance with the relevant legal guidelines and laws.”

The assertion additional learn “quite a few feedback have been obtained by the city after the December twelfth eligibility listening to and people have been shared with the applicant, together with a reference to a criticism probably being filed with the Colorado Lawyer Common. The city has not obtained a replica of any such criticism, however the board of trustees met with the city legal professional in government session on Jan. 9 to comply with up on these points and to make sure continued compliance with the relevant legal guidelines and guidelines.”

Integrity Issues issued a information launch pushing again on the mayor’s and board’s response stating it was “a valiant try to color over procedural flaws with broad assurances, nonetheless it fails to handle the detailed authorized issues outlined in our Dec. 30, 2024, letter.”