While there has been movement at the site, located at the end of U.S. 87 off I-10, the development only has a grading permit, and will require further building permits and design approval before the store can go vertical.
Although the completion date for Buc-ee’s is undecided, the construction is expected to serve as a sales tax generator for the city of Boerne upon completion.
The approach
Amy Story, president and CEO of Boerne Kendall County Economic Development Corporation, said I-10 is one of the primary development areas for the city of Boerne.
“There’s not a ton of highway frontage that is undeveloped,” she said. “I think we will certainly see, once [Buc-ee’s is] up and running, it will attract other businesses.”
Story said one of the primary goals of the EDC is to attract businesses that can help diversify tax revenue for the city.
Unlike communities around San Antonio focused on manufacturing and industrial businesses, Boerne focuses on businesses who create primary jobs and create a pathway for young people who leave to come back and raise a family here, Story said.
“We really see ourselves as a community that attracts smaller projects,” she said. “We are not going to be the giant manufacturing hub that Seguin would be.”
While Buc-ee’s does not explicitly fulfill that focus, the store is expected to create more than 150 jobs and has the potential to draw in traffic for nearby businesses.
The debate
Residents in the area appear to be split on the new store being developed, with many residents in favor of having a Buc-ee’s and others voicing concerns about the development.
Residents opposing the development have used forums such as Change.org to start petitions against Buc-ee’s.
As of April 17, the online petition had 1,212 verified signatures, with some of the primary concerns listed in the petition being water use, environmental damages and the impact the business would have on the nearby neighborhoods.
Communications Director Chris Shadrock said the permitting process for gas pumps is through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
According to TDLR, the permitting process insures the safety and quality of the fuel pumps.
Story said she would rather the store be built within the city limits, allowing the city to benefit from sales tax revenue. If the store were built in the area outside of the city limits, Boerne would feel the traffic impact without the tax benefit.
In 2016, the city and county entered an economic development agreement to give Buc-ee’s a 20-year rebate of half their respective shares of sales taxes generated by the store.
This is not an uncommon agreement between cities and the convenience chain, with the city of San Marcos entering a similar agreement.
“[Buc-ee’s] will be an extremely high sales tax generator, which allows the city to continue to add to quality of life,” Story said.
Overall, the actual opening date of the Boerne Buc-ee’s is still undetermined, and the project will continue to move through the development process.
