Plans for Southwest Florida's first Buc-ee's head back to county commissioners

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — Pink-and-gold rays of light danced on the Peace River as Time Reese cast his line from Harbour Heights Park.

He's never been to a Buc-ees. But he's definitely heard of it. 

"They have a really good barbecue brisket sandwich," Reese said. 

The Texas-based gas station has a Texas-sized reputation. Now, Buc-ees wants to open its first Southwest Florida location just down the river from Reese.

Charlotte County commissioners will hold a public hearing on the project at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The proposal has spun up plenty of excitement - and controversy. 

Developers want to build the massive gas station off I-75 and Harborview Road in Charlotte County. The land sits just north of the Peace River, raising concerns for some neighbors and environmental activists. 

County commission documents show the proposed 74,000 square-foot facility would include 120 fuel stations and 740 parking spaces. The land is in a FEMA-designated high-risk flood zone, according to county maps. 

"I think it's a terrible idea to put 120 gas pumps right next to a river that floods," said David LeBlanc, who lives in Deep Creek. 

The river is a habitat for the endangered small tooth sawfish and for juvenile species, such as tarpon.

Gulfshore Business reports that Buc-ees is one part of a larger plan that straddles both sides of I-75 to the north nd south . The development, formerly known as the Harborview Project, was first proposed in 1992 and purchased by Benderson Development, LLC in 2009.

The project would also have 50,000 square feet of office space, 655,000 square feet of commercial development and 350 hotel rooms. Removed from earlier plans was a proposed public marina with 260 wet boat slips, 192 dry storage boat slips and 20 boat slips for single-family homes.

Buc-ees will anchor the commercial section of the development, called West Village. North and East Villages will include housing and green space.

County commissioners previously approved zoning amendments for the project in May. 

The open space for preservation and recreational uses was increased to 226.55 acres. Meanwhile, 61.21 acres were set aside for scrub jay and gopher tortoise habitat in perpetuity.

On Monday, neighbors seemed split on the project.

Cody Buel's young children squealed with excitement as they swung through the air at Harbour Heights Park, Buel said the kids loved stopping at Buc-ees in Georgia and Kentucky.

He welcomed plans for a new location. "It's going to bring a lot of revenue in, " Buel said. "A lot more tourists to the county."

Elmer Garza was a little more skeptical after he wrapped up a game of pickleball.

The Deep Creek resident suggested other parts of I-75 might be more suitable.

"Obviously it's going to bring more revenue and it's going to bring more jobs into the county," Garza said. "But on the other side of that, you know, I'm worried about the wildlife. I'm worried about the traffic."