The long-debated Buc-ee’s proposal in Stafford County has officially been approved after a marathon Board of Supervisors meeting that stretched past midnight.
County leaders voted 5-2 in favor of rezoning and conditional-use permits for the massive travel center planned near Courthouse Road and Austin Ridge Drive along I-95.
The project has sparked strong reactions from both supporters and opponents, with residents debating everything from traffic congestion and noise concerns to jobs, tourism, and tax revenue.
How was the Buc-ee’s approved?
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors approved the Buc-ee’s proposal during a lengthy public hearing on May 19 that lasted nearly eight hours, ending early Wednesday morning.
Supervisors ultimately voted 5-2 to approve both the rezoning request and the conditional-use permit needed for the development to move forward.
Supporters argued the travel center would bring hundreds of jobs and millions in annual tax revenue to Stafford County, while opponents raised concerns about traffic, environmental impacts, noise, and the project’s proximity to nearby neighborhoods like Embrey Mill and Austin Ridge.
When is the Buc-ee’s expected to be built?
An official construction timeline has not yet been announced, and Buc-ee’s has not confirmed an opening date for the Stafford County location.
County documents show the project still must go through additional transportation and infrastructure review processes before construction can begin.
The proposed Buc-ee’s would be built on roughly 38 acres near I-95 Exit 140 and include a 74,000-square-foot store, 120 gas pumps, EV charging stations, and more than 800 parking spaces.
Plans also call for significant road improvements around the interchange to address expected traffic increases.
Some reports suggest the transportation review process alone could take more than a year before major construction work begins.
If timelines stay on track, the Stafford Buc-ee’s would still be several years away from opening to the public.
