PALMER LAKE — As frustrated residents packed town hall and spilled out into the rain, town officials in Palmer Lake voted 6-1 Thursday evening to approve the first step toward annexing land to build Colorado’s second Buc-ee’s location, this one between Colorado Springs and Denver.
The town’s Board of Trustees said the Texas-chain’s annexation request met legal requirements. Next, the board must decide whether to approve the annexation and allow Buc-ee’s to start building a 74,000-square-foot convenience store and gas station near Interstate 25 and County Line Road.
The town’s planning commission will meet June 18 to review the proposed zoning and make a recommendation to the board of trustees. Then, another meeting will be held for residents to voice their concerns.
The proposal has led to strife in the communities north of Colorado Springs, and a community watchdog group, Integrity Matters, has filed a lawsuit to try to stop it.
On Thursday, about 100 people packed Palmer Lake’s town hall, where a representative from Vertex Consulting, a Colorado Springs-based consulting firm, shared details on the landowner, Monument Ridge West LLC’s annexation petition.
An additional three dozen people stood outside the building in raincoats and under umbrellas, watching the meeting from a screen outside in 50-degree temperatures. They held signs that read “Buc-off, Buc-ee’s,” “Don’t pave paradise” and “Our town, not a tourist trap.”
Following the vote, some residents booed and yelled “recall.”
Several longtime Palmer Lake residents raised concerns about the town’s unsustainable water supply, which heavily relies on the depleting Denver groundwater basin, but were cut off after trustees told speakers the board was strictly evaluating the legal eligibility of annexation and would consider water and other concerns at a future meeting.
Cailtin Quander, an attorney representing the Malone Family Land Preservation, said she felt the annexation would impact open space, the conservation movement and the preservation of dark sky, among other issues.
“I am here tonight to make it clear to the trustees, the conservation of this open space is very important for the Malone Family Land Preservation Foundation,” Quander said. “To date, public and private funds to preserve the Valley have exceeded $90 million and the foundation is prepared to do what is necessary to protect it.”
Of the more than 30 people who spoke during Thursday’s three-hour meeting, two said they were in favor of the development. Trustee Kevin Dreher said during the meeting that he has talked to residents who are in favor of the gas station, but are afraid to speak on the controversial issue.
Residents who oppose the proposed Buc-ee’s also also fear the 24/7 gas station would bring an excessive amount of cars that would clog rural roads.
There is also concern over the gas station’s proximity to Greenland Ranch, a 22,000-acre historic ranch preserved by a conservation easement, meaning that the land can never be used for commercial business. Conservationists fear the development would undermine Colorado’s commitment to conserving open lands.
But supporters of the proposed Buc-ee’s see the gas station as an economic driver to the area. Studies commissioned by Palmer Lake show Buc-ee’s would bring significant sales tax revenue to the town, as well as $10.5 million in transportation improvements from Buc-ee’s as part of site development.
Board members voted Thursday on Buc-ee’s second annexation request. The first, which the board approved in March on a 4-1 vote, was withdrawn last month due to a “technical issue.” The developers resubmitted a second proposal about four weeks later.