STAFFORD, Va. — A plan to build the third Buc-ee's travel center in Virginia is facing pushback from neighbors near the proposed Stafford site.
The Texas-based company has submitted a conditional use permit for a 74,000-square-foot travel center off of Exit 140 on Interstate 95. The massive center would stand on 36 acres on the eastern side of Austin Ridge Drive and would include 120 fueling stations according to a general development plan.
Documents uploaded to the Stafford County Planning and Zoning Department indicate that the development would include 24 Tesla charging stations, 833 parking spaces, a dozen bus/RV spaces, and a bike plaza.
The proposed Buc-ee's would bring in an estimated 200 jobs with benefits and an average pay above minimum wage, according to the application.
Homeowners near the proposed site say they feel blindsided by the project.
"I am not averse to progress, I am not averse to development, but I don't need 120 gas pumps in my backyard," Kristen Ortner told WUSA9.
The application for Buc-ee's to purchase the land in Stafford is still under review, with no dates scheduled for public comment or a clear timeline for the project.
"It's 24 hours a day noise, and the traffic, it's unsafe," Richard Wallace said as he was leaving the newly opened Wawa across the street from the proposed Buc-ee's site. "There's a lot of walking that goes on in this neighborhood."
Homeowners are concerned with the proximity of the massive center to the neighboring residential communities like Embrey Mills.
Living just two miles away from the proposed center, Rene Laws says she is concerned with the influx of traffic and the resources needed to protect such a large complex in Stafford.
"I love Buc-ee's," Laws said. "I am concerned about the value of my home and the safety of me being able to pull out of my street and go either direction without having to worry if I am going to have to wait 10 minutes because they put in something so popular."
Among the overwhelming opposition is Mike Lambert, who says he has been living in Stafford for 19 years. He sees the proposal as an indication that the community is growing, and said he sees the positive in having a stop accessible for drivers traveling on I-95.
"When they're traveling on the interstate, they're going to do what's easiest," Lambert said. "They want to get off, get their gas, and get back on their way."
Buc-ee's did not respond to WUSA9 requests for comment regarding the neighbors' concerns.
Stafford County Supervisors are slated to meet on May 7, but while there are some zoning-related issues on the agenda, the Buc-ee's project is not included in the agenda.
The Garrisonville District Supervisor, Dr. Pamela Yeung who represents the area of the proposed project, also did respond to requests for comment.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story described the Stafford County Board of Suporvisors meeting as a "zoning" meeting. It is a board meeting that is including some zoning issues on the agenda.
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