BOERNE, Texas – Citizens of Boerne, still pushing back against a Buc-ee’s planned to go just near the city’s center.
They’ve said they just don’t feel all the information is on the table; adding, they don’t feel heard by the city or Buc-ee’s executives. But they’re not giving up.
“There’s just so many different items that are of in of importance to us,” said Kristi Ackerman. “There’s just an unfairness that’s going on that is so pro Buc-ee’s project that we don’t understand it.”
Ackerman and other citizens have spent the past few weeks voicing their concerns during city council meetings and even one-on-ones with city officials.
District 4 Councilman Dr. Joseph Macaluso — holding at least 4 with local neighbors.
“We’re just fighting. We’re fighting for dark skies… one of the things I keep asking about is public safety,” Ackerman said. “Our city is extremely concerned about the traffic coming through here.”
On Wednesday, one group responded to a project briefing from the city manager with a 12-page rebuttal — saying the briefing leaves unanswered questions.
City officials say the briefing lays everything out fully.
“Every time we ask about Buc-ee’s if they can change something, because it doesn’t fit with what our city is about, it’s like a hard no. It’s just a period at the end,” Ackerman said.
The City of Boerne came to an Economic Development Agreement (DA) with Buc-ee’s back in 2016. According to that 25-page briefing from city staff, several elements of that agreement are “binding”.
Buc-ee’s just hasn’t started construction.
“The city has a tendency to say, Buc-ee’s did it then, nine years ago, and there’s no changing it,” Ackerman said. “I feel like it’s probably set in stone, and this is just to get it done.”
The city is now discussing Buc-ee’s request to get more land that’s currently unclassified. City officials said they made an ‘error’ when rezoning the city in 2021. They’ll review that request in a planning and zoning meeting on Monday, Sept. 8.
Ackerman said, if it passes, Boerne will change forever.
“Buc-ee’s is going to build their building, and all of their executives are going to go home to their homes that are not surrounded by Buc-ee’s,” she started. “But we will live with it. For the rest of my life, I’ll live with it.”
The Planning and Zoning meeting will happen at City Hall Monday at 6PM. If the committee passes the zoning request, it will go to City Council on Sept. 23 to be formally ratified.