texas

Buc-ees Eyes Denton for Travel Center

Denton could be the next site for a Texas-sized Buc-ees travel center.

A proposal from owner Arch "Beaver" Aplin went before the Denton City Council in open work session for the first time Tuesday.

Aplin is asking leaders to approve a 20-year, $9.4 million tax rebate incentive package to build along the west side of Interstate 35E just south of Loop 288 and the Golden Triangle Mall.

The 52,000 square-foot development would include about 96 gas pumps and seven retail pads for other businesses to come in as well.

During the proposal Tuesday it was announced that the incentive program would include a 100 percent sales tax reimbursement to Buc-ees for about the first three years and 50 percent for 20 years.

Aplin has proposed making improvements to access routes to I-35E in the area as well as upgrading infrastructure in the area.

During the work session Mayor Chris Watts said the changes to flow could "revolutionize that area."

There has been some mixed feelings about the development in the neighborhood that backs up to the land though.

Several residents on Valencia Lane fear the 24/7 travel center will bring light and noise pollution to their neighborhood.

Many question the unknown side effects that could come with having the Buc-ees just a few hundred feet behind their homes, including property values and potential traffic or environmental issues that may arise.

One neighbor said Tuesday he and his wife were putting their home up for sale already to get out before things move any farther.

City Economic Director Aimee Bissett said Aplin is working with residents though to try and accommodate everyone as best as possible.

He's already agreed to a 50-foot landscaping set back and to leave a pond remaining between his store and the neighborhood, possibly even adding public access to the pond and stocking it for fishing.

The land is zoned for commercial use so technically Buc-ees could build if they chose, but Aplin told council members he's only interested in bringing the project to town if they can agree on an incentive deal as he has with all the other cities where Buc-ees has built.

Some neighbors welcomed the idea Tuesday though, saying they know that the land will be developed, and they'd rather it went to this plan than something else.

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