Our Home Is Not a Pit Stop
A perspective from Jared Cates, Lamar Proctor, Heather Smith and Del Ward
On January 19, the Orange County Board of Commissioners met with Buc-ee’s representatives Beth Trahos and Stan Beard to consider Buc-ee’s rezoning request for their proposed Efland Station development. Board members voiced significant concerns over several aspects of Buc-ee’s proposal, one of those being the size of their travel center. When Beard was asked if Buc-ee’s would scale down, his response was that the large size is what makes Buc-ee’s profitable. He added, “Any meaningful reduction in scale would not address any of the concerns that are already there.” We wholeheartedly agree.
Storing 100,000 gallons of gasoline instead of 240,000 gallons on a parcel directly adjoining a critically protected watershed would leave key problems unaddressed. It only takes one gallon of gasoline to pollute 750,000 gallons of water. Every commenting environmental organization raised significant concerns about the project. Even if Buc-ee’s met every condition the commissioners have suggested, Efland Station would still violate Orange County’s official land use plans and threaten the environment.
Phase 1 of the proposed development is the building of an enormous gas station. Buc-ee’s suggests that additional development such as restaurants, a hotel, and a bank may follow in a second phase. Phase 2, remains just a concept, however, and Buc-ee’s offers no guarantee that it would definitely happen. When pressed about Phase 2 during the recent Board meeting on when it would happen and what specific businesses it would bring, Beard responded: “…it’s real up in the air right now – because we have – we don’t know.”
It’s clear from Beard’s response that Phase 2 might come, but only if Buc-ee’s travel center succeeds. Beard has stated in previous meetings this success could take 6-8 years to ensure. Buc-ee’s success is directly linked to their ability to rise to the challenges of a dying fossil fuel industry at the height of the climate crisis. Buc-ee’s has yet to commit to installing 10 EV charging stations on opening day.
Beard noted at the recent meeting, “Our goal is to succeed.” Indeed, Buc-ee’s is focused on the 125,000 cars that pass through the area daily on the interstate. Our community, on the other hand, must focus on our collective well-being which includes ensuring the safety of our water. The applicant obfuscated facts about Hillsborough’s water source and had to be corrected by the planning department. Such an error should give us all pause..
Orange County residents and public officials have enumerated their concerns only to see Buc-ee’s sidestep issues repeatedly. Buc-ee’s has demonstrated little interest in conforming to our land use plans, and if this zoning change is approved, Buc-ee’s would be free to build a giant gas station with few guarantees to the community.
In September 2020, Efland neighbors connected after receiving a letter about the project. We canvassed our neighborhood, gathered email addresses, set up Zoom meetings, and started making calls. We formed a petition called A Voice for Efland & Orange; the name originated under the idea that MPD-CZ zoning restricts future community input on the site and transfers Phase 2 decision-making power to the developer. The petition grew into an ever-expanding organizing committee of neighbors, an overwhelming majority of whom live in Efland or the Cheeks township, and many of whom live within 2 miles of the proposed Buc-ee’s site.
Our online petition currently has 5,763 signatures, including over 2,350 Orange County residents. Nearly 400 signees are Elfanders. We stand steadfast in our opposition to Buc-ee’s with nearly 6,000 people of diverse backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and political alignments who all agree that our home is not a pitstop.
“Viewpoints” is a place on Chapelboro where local people are encouraged to share their unique perspectives on issues affecting our community. If you’d like to contribute a column on an issue you’re concerned about, interesting happenings around town, reflections on local life — or anything else — send a submission to viewpoints@wchl.com
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines