Imagine seeing the iconic Buc-ee's beavers along I-75. It could be a reality in Charlotte County, but not everyone is cheering.
"I think some people just don't want to Buc-ee's, but others, I don't have a problem with the Buc-ee's. I have a problem with placing the Buc-ee's," said Charlotte County resident Laura Johnson.
Some Charlotte County residents came to talk about their concerns about the proposed development. The development would sit right near the intersection of Harborview Road and I-75. Bucee's is just one part of a larger plan to add new housing and commercial space that could bring thousands more people to the area.
Some people at the meeting clearly had no interest in a Buc-ee's.
"My concern is where they want to put it is in a coastal high hazard area. West Village is what they're calling it right now. That's zoned for low density, residential. That means only a few homes can be in there. Which makes sense because it's a coastal high hazard area. They want to change it to a commercial, and high impact, high intensity zoning," said Johnson.
But not everyone is against it.
"Buc-ee's does bring a lot of tourists. People love the T-shirts and the stickers. It's kind of a tourist attraction, more than an actual like revenue-collecting, kind of like an actual business," said Charlotte County resident Robert Amend.
Main concerns that came up in the meeting include more traffic, flooding and wildlife problems.
"I don't have any problems with them bringing new infrastructure here, but you got to do something so that people can get around. We're used to being able to get out on the roads and go where we need to go," said Charlotte County resident Gary George.
"People call it the bayou. I'm sure you've heard that, because of recent news events. But the to me, it is a couple of things.. I want to protect Buc-ee's from putting themselves in peril. I'd like to protect the environment. I'd also like to protect the residents," said Johnson.
This was just up for discussion at today's meeting. Gulf Coast News will be sure to keep you updated about this proposal.
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