Buc-ee s Pulls Out of Orange County, Citing Commissioner Reception
The Texas gas company announced Friday morning that they were withdrawing their controversial rezoning application for the proposed Efland Stationâa multi-phase project centered around the mammoth 120-nozzle travel centerâdue to Orange County not being a âsuitable fit.â
In January, the Orange County Board of Commissioners sent the company back to Texas to discuss multiple conditions, including resizing the gas station and adding environmentally friendly adaptations to the project. The conditions were to be discussed at the February 16 county board meeting.
âWe appreciate the support we have received from hundreds of people in Efland and northern Orange County who were excited about the opportunities and jobs Buc-ee s and Efland Station would bring,â Stan Beard, director of real estate for Buc-ee s, said in a press statement. âUnfortunately, Orange County Commissioners were n
After a Month of Public Comments, Orange County Sends Buc-eeâs Back to the Drawing Board
Designed by Jon Fuller
As the nation fixed its eyes on Washington pomp on the eve of Joe Bidenâs inauguration, some Triangle residents were focused on a local commissioners meeting that could mean changes for the entire area.
On January 19, the Orange County Board of Commissioners spent hours discussing Efland Station, a proposed rezoning project anchored by a massive gas station in the northern part of Orange County. The commissioners asked questions and gave comments, grilling the applicant on its plans for the future. They could have voted; they didnât.
An unassuming piece of undeveloped land in Orange County is likely one of the most discussed development proposals in the region right now. Developers are dreaming of putting the biggest gas station in the state as an anchor to a development called Efland Station, right off I-40 and 85.
The Texas-based company called Buc-ee s already boasts some of the largest gas stations in the world, but people in North Carolina aren t used to seeing 60 double-sized pumps, or a gas station comparable to a Wal-Mart in size and in product offerings.
Ann Roberts, whose old home backs up to where the cows roam, wants to keep it simple – to keep it country. I think it s too big of a development, said Roberts. She agrees the location is convenient because it s right off the highway, but she s concerned the small community can t support such a large and bustling development.
The project, if passed, would include a Buc-ee's travel center, hotel, restaurants and commercial space. It's received vocal opposition from some Orange County residents.
Orange County Residents Largely Oppose Planned Buc-ee s at Final Public Hearings
Special Virtual Meeting on Jan. 12, 2021
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met with residents Tuesday night for the last of three public hearing sessions that began in mid-December. The hearings regarded a proposed rezoning that would allow Buc-ee s, a Texas-owned gas station and convenience store company, to build their first North Carolina branch in the small unincorporated community of Efland.
The proposed development would be split into two phases. It would create jobs and potential tax revenue for the county, but it would also mean the creation of a 120-nozzle fueling station that requires six large underground tanks to be placed on top of a protected watershed.