National chains, sprawling subdivisions, data centers and lifestyle developments continue to reshape the Texas Hill Country. In fast-growing towns like Boerne and San Marcos, that transformation is now marked by another familiar symbol of Texas expansion — the supersized arrival of Buc-ee’s.
A newly approved study means the company is one step closer to beginning construction on its long-debated $38 million, 53,471-square-foot travel center planned for Boerne. The project, first proposed nearly a decade ago, has drawn both excitement and concern from residents who worry about traffic, environmental impacts and the changing character of the community.
On January 7, Boerne city leaders approved a traffic impact analysis (TIA) for the Lake Jackson-based retailer, clearing a major procedural hurdle. The approval does not authorize immediate construction, but it signals meaningful progress after years of delays and negotiations.
City spokesperson Chris Shadrock told MySA that several steps remain before any ground is broken.
"All permits are under review, which includes site development permits and building permits."
Officials declined to provide a firm timeline, noting that the process depends largely on how quickly the applicant responds to requests for revisions and additional documentation.
"The timeline of review is based on the response time with the permit applicant," Shadrock shared. "Once they meet all city and state requirements, the permits will be approved. "
Buc-ee’s has not responded to requests for comment on an updated schedule for the project. Some “initial” construction activity occurred last year, but work paused as negotiations continued over the size and layout of the facility.
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Last fall, the company agreed to a series of concessions aimed at reducing environmental and neighborhood impacts. Those changes helped move the project forward after months of resistance from residents concerned about congestion along Interstate 10 and U.S. 87 Business.
Days after the TIA approval, Boerne’s planning and zoning commission — followed by the city council — ratified a rezoning request allowing Buc-ee’s to build an additional parking lot on a 5.155-acre tract adjacent to the future site. When complete, the travel center will sit only a few miles from the Hill Country Mile, Boerne’s signature corridor of shops and restaurants.
A 25-page city report shows Buc-ee’s has submitted multiple traffic studies since 2017, with the most recent filed on July 14, 2025. Under Boerne’s Unified Development Code, any project expected to add more than 100 vehicles during peak hours must complete a TIA evaluating roadway segments and intersections within a two-mile radius.
To win approval, developers must ensure traffic conditions do not worsen by more than 10% at intersections operating at a “C” level of service. City standards rate traffic from “A” (free-flowing) to “F” (failing).
Originally reported by Mia Valdez, Boerne Reporter in My San Antonio.
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