Buc-ee’s new gas payment policy
Buc-ee’s new pay-at-the-pump policy will no longer allow customers to pay by card in-store.
- Despite its popularity, Buc-ee’s expansion plans have faced opposition from local communities in several states.
- Residents have expressed concerns about increased traffic, environmental impacts and potential damage to local businesses.
- Common complaints about large travel centers include water usage, potential for chemical spills, and light and noise pollution.
Buc-ee’s, the wildly popular gas station, convenience store and tourist destination from Texas, has plans to open new stores across the country through 2031. This large travel center has a cult following that rave about its convenience, gas station lines, cleanliness, fresh food made in-store and Beaver-themed treats.
Buc-ee’s could also bring hundreds of jobs to the community and generate millions of dollars in revenue, as well as draw thousands of visitors a day who might wander around to check out local entertainment and shops.
However, not everyone is happy to see the Buc-ee sign go up.
Ahead of a proposed 74,000-square-foot Buc-ee’s along Interstate 75 in Port Charlotte, Florida, some residents are expressing concerns about the increased traffic it would bring to the area. Local residents told Gulf Coast News that the chosen site is “entirely within a coastal high-risk area and flood plain” and could disrupt endangered fish species in nearby fish farms.
Buc-ee’s St. Lucie billboard signal project progress.
Buc-ee’s is announcing progress in St. Lucie County with updated signage near the project site. Details of the site plan have been revealed.
Plans for another site in Florida, a 76,245-square-foot site in St. Lucie County, had to be resubmitted after addressing environmental concerns about potential impacts to wildlife such as migratory birds and hatching sea turtles. County commissioners also had to approve changes to local zoning regulations to allow Buc-ee’s iconic 100-foot sign to tower next to the highway.
Buc-ee protests across the country
In Palmer Lake, Colorado, a former school bus carrying a “Stop Buc-ee’s” banner drove through northern El Paso County following local protests at a December city council meeting to discuss potential sites in the area.
Palmer Lake Mayor Grant Hebner told KRDO in February that the project is still in its early stages while the city awaits the results of multiple transportation and water use studies. Multiple residents and nonprofit groups sued the city to block the plan.
Buc-ee’s withdrew its request in March, citing “technical issues,” according to the Chron.
In Springfield, Missouri, demonstrators marched against city incentives for new Buc-ee construction that include paying the company up to $9.2 million over 20 years in reimbursement for needed infrastructure improvements.
Residents of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, filed a lawsuit in April to block the city from rezoning a proposed Buc-ee’s there. “Heave the Beave” fundraisers said runoff from the new Buc-ee could impact local groundwater and the nearby Root River, putting nearby horse ranches at risk. The lawsuit was dismissed.
Critics of the proposed 74,000-square-foot site in Stafford, Virginia, voiced the estimated increase in more than 20,000 vehicles daily, noise, light pollution and poor air quality. The Stafford County Board of Supervisors approved the plan on May 20.
Huge new Daytona Book refueling area
Check out this video of the huge new Buc-ee’s refueling area in Daytona Beach. Along with St. Augustine Buc-ee’s, it is the largest gas station in Florida.
Clayton Park, Daytona Beach News Journal
Why don’t people want Buc-ee’s?
Common complaints about potential travel centers of 70,000 square feet or more, each with more than 100 gas pumps, are increased traffic, environmental impact, and cost.
- Increased traffic
- Buc-ee’s attracts thousands of drivers every day, and traffic in the area has increased dramatically. Development often involves widening or adding new roads and traffic lights.
- Environmental impact
- “Buc-ee’s will consume more than 10 million gallons of our precious water this year,” most of which will go to nonresident travelers, according to the stopbuceespalmerlake.com website.
- Each Buc-ee has 100 to 120 gas pumps, storing hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil and other dangerous chemicals underground, increasing the potential for contamination of local soils and water tables.
- Exhaust emissions from the thousands of vehicles that visit Buc-ee’s each day can impact local residents.
- Buc-ee development could disrupt local wildlife and endangered species through light pollution, noise, traffic, and chemical spills.
- local income
- Buc-ee’s often receive large tax breaks from local governments as an incentive to come there, and they sometimes negotiate “capital incentives” to pay for improvements.
- Buc-ee’s typically offers gas at a lower price, so not having the same purchasing power could hurt your local gas station. Local shopping districts may also lose out to competition.
- Buc-ee’s offers very competitive wages and salaries, but our employee satisfaction rating on Indeed.com is only 2.5 out of 5. A review by a Florida employee says, “At first glance, this job may seem desirable in terms of compensation and benefits, but don’t be fooled. Employee paranoia is so high here that it defines the culture.”
Buc-ee’s has also had some recent issues, with dozens of its stores receiving an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau’s website.
On May 26, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a complaint against the company, accusing the company of forcing a disabled cashier to stand at a store in Bastrop, Texas, and terminating her because she was unable to return to work.
As plans move forward in several states, local officials and residents will continue to weigh the benefits of new jobs and revenue against the potential burden on infrastructure and the environment.
CA Bridges is a journalist on the service journalism Connect team at USA TODAY Network-Florida. Sign up for our free newsletter, Florida TODAY, to get all of Florida’s best content straight to your inbox every weekday.
