Wednesday, January 31, 2018

BUC-EE'S PUBLIC NUiSANCE: 120 Gasoline Pump Complex at WGV Can Proceed With NO County Commission Vote

Great article by Jake Martin. This proposal is a noisome public nuisance. At their January 16, 2018 meeting, I suggested that St. Johns County Commission consider eminent domain to abate the nuisance, paying the property owner fair market value.




St. Johns County waiting for Buc-ee’s to make its next move


By Jake Martin
Posted Jan 31, 2018 at 2:01 AM
St. Augustine Record

St. Johns County appears caught under the expanding footprint of Buc-ee’s, a Texas-based and Texas-sized gas station and convenience store chain with its sights set on Florida.

The privately-owned company is looking to set up shop in the southwest sector of the Interstate-95/International Golf Parkway interchange, much to the chagrin of many area residents.

Buc-ee’s submitted a pre-application to St. Johns County in September outlining a proposed project consisting of 120 gas pumps and a 52,600-square-foot convenience store.

The county has said numerous times the development application will not require a review process by the Planning and Zoning Agency or the Board of County Commissioners unless the applicant requests variances not approved by current zoning.

But that hasn’t kept several residents from the World Golf Village area from regularly speaking during general public comment at commission meetings.

At the Jan. 18 meeting, resident James Pavone questioned if the project really fits into the county’s vision and whether first responders are prepared and equipped to respond to any possible catastrophes, such as a fire, at a facility capable of storing up to half a million gallons of fuel.

He pointed to dozens of existing pumps at the same exit, as well as two truck stops just 5 miles north of the proposed site.

“I think this is overkill and it seems like it’s a bad idea,” Pavone said.

Other residents expressed concerns about potential negative impacts on traffic, safety, property values and quality of life. One came with some examples of Buc-ee’s billboards and slogans, calling the chain an “eyesore” and “crass.”

As of Tuesday morning, there were 1,893 signatures on a petition on www.change.org called “Petitioning St. Johns County Commissioners: The World Golf Community does not want Buc-ee’s convenience store.”

In their reasons for signing, petitioners commented that traffic in the area is already “bumper to bumper,” that I-95 at International Golf Parkway is already one of the most dangerous sections of the interstate in Florida, that the Buc-ee’s would have a negative impact on property values, and that it’s just plain “unsightly.”

Nonetheless, according to a status update posted to St. Johns County’s website this week, the proposed project adheres to all land use and zoning regulations applicable for the property.

“At this time, the applicant has not submitted a variance request,” the update says. “Should a variance of the zoning or land use be requested, a public hearing process by the Planning and Zoning Agency or the Board of County Commissioners would be initiated.”

The county says staff recently received and approved an Incremental Master Development Plan, which is a basic site plan that outlines the location of the building, driveways and setback. However, a Commercial Construction Plan will still have to be submitted before Buc-ee’s can apply for a building permit.

The property’s land use designation is mixed use and the zoning is planned unit development within the World Commerce Center PUD, which the county says allows for retail, commercial and industrial development, including gas stations. Buc-ee’s immediate neighbors would include such landmarks as Ring Power’s corporate headquarters.

County spokesman Michael Ryan told The Record on Tuesday there’s been no “monumental step in the timeline” as of yet in the development process and that the county is more or less waiting for the company to make its next move. He said there’s been “some paperwork” as well as verbal comments going back and forth on the application, which is nothing outside the normal process.

He said a variance request could change that, but that the county has not received any indication from Buc-ee’s lately that it will do so. He said as long as they stay within the bounds of the land use designation and zoning, they’re pretty much free to roam.

“They can build the biggest beef jerky bar they want inside that store,” Ryan said.

Meanwhile, World Golf Village isn’t the only Florida location on the chain’s radar.

Another Buc-ee’s is planned for Daytona, next to the I-95/LPGA Boulevard interchange. Site plans submitted to the city call for the Buc-ee’s to have a 53,254-square-foot store. Also planned are five outparcels where smaller standalone retail buildings could be built for other tenants.

Yet another Buc-ee’s is planned for Fort Myers, where a 50,000-square-foot store and 80-pump gas station is being floated.

For comparison, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported on Jan. 9 that the largest convenience store/gas station in Florida at present is believed to be the Busy Bee truck stop in Live Oak, which has 38 gas pumps and a 20,000-square-foot store.

But size isn’t everything.


Gas Buddy, a Boston-based crowdsourcing smartphone app connecting drivers with preferred gas stations, or “their Perfect Pit Stop,” recently declared Buc-ee’s the No. 1 gas station in America.

The study, based on customer reviews, said the chain led the competition in all six categories: coffee, cleanliness, customer service, outdoor lighting, restrooms and overall.

Buc-ee’s general counsel Jeff Nadalo has previously told The Record he understands the concerns of residents but also thinks some of them will be assuaged as they learn more about the stores.

He said it’s important to realize Buc-ee’s is not a truck stop. Its pumps will not accommodate semitrailers, except to make deliveries. Also, the stores do not currently sell lottery tickets.

“The types of products we sell are very much middle of the road,” Nadalo said. “In terms of congestion, we do a really good job of planning ahead of time to minimize congestion. We are very familiar with how to get people in and out quickly.”

Co-owner Arch “Beaver” Aplin told the Florida Times-Union last year that he hopes to break ground during the first quarter of 2018 and that construction would take about 12 months.

Ryan said that timeline may not be too far off, especially in lieu of any variance requests to have come up, since the developers would not have to seek approval from the PZA or commission in that scenario.




REALTIME
Rick Ambrose
  • Rick Ambrose
  •  
  • Rank 0
The growth is out of control, and they just keep bringing more and more.......207 at the Flea Market will be next. It’s a mess all up and down I95.....and they want more stuff.
  • 35 minutes ago
Edward Adelbert Slavin
  • Edward Adelbert Slavin
  •  
  • Rank 0
Proposed 999 homes at Flea Market at I-95 and SR 207 on agenda for next Tuesday’s BoCC meeting. Just say NO!
  • 8 minutes ago
Carmelo Russo
  • Carmelo Russo
  •  
  • Rank 0
When the WGV was built, there was nothing but open land there with a family-owned-and-operated general store and a two lane road to get out there. If you drink the KoolAid and participate in the paving over of a natural and sustainable environment, do you have the right to come back and shut the door behind you? Typical FL outlook. You people made a deal with the devil, and there are no stipulations. I won’t even get started on the economic benefits we were supposed to see out of this “resort”... » more
  • 5 hours ago
Edward Adelbert Slavin
  • Edward Adelbert Slavin
  •  
  • Rank 0
@Carmelo Russo WGV was a scam, perpetrated by the landowner, who was a County Commissioner. Corrupt.
  • 4 hours ago
Tom Reynolds
  • Tom Reynolds
  •  
  • Rank 0
SHAME ON ALL WHO SIGNED THE PETITION! 

WHAT IS wrong with the WHOLE BUNCH of YOU HATERS?

What a BUCH of SELFISH RESIDENTS WANTING SAFETY FOR THAT AREA! 

HOW CAN ST JOHNS COUNTY STAY THE LOW WAGE CAPITOL OF THE FLORIDA EAST COAST, IF WE do not KEEP ADDING $8.10 JOBS? 

People who live in St Johns County should understand by NOW, that the St Johns County Administration, under the COMMAND of ... Developer Puppet Michael Wanchick and County Developers Best Friend, County Attorney Patrick Francis McCormack, and the North Florida Developers SJC County Commissioners ... THAT DEVELOPERS RULE and THE RESIDENTS ARE FOOLED! 

IT'S-A REPUBLICAN THING! 

THIS JUST IN ... 

NOW I JUST GOT SOME REALLY GREAT NEWS ABOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL THING! 

If St Johns County Commissioners ALLOW THE BUC-EEs to ADD ONLY ANOTHER 130 PUMPS, bringing the total to 250, SJC WILL HOLD THE .....

GET READY... DRUM ROLL PLEASE ...

........................ THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS FOR THE LARGEST UNNECCARY GAS STATION IN THE WORLD! ................

OH PLEASE ... APPROVE THE ADDED GAS PUMPS ... 

WHAT A WORLD RECORD TO HAVE HERE IN ST JOHNS COUNTY FLOOR A DUH! 

AND IT WORKS RIGHT IN WITH ALL THE OTHER NON-RESIDENT FRIEDLY THINGS THAT GO ON HERE IN SJC, FLOOR A DUH! 

YES ... ST JOHNS COUNTY FLOOR A DUH ... WHERE DEVELOPERS RULE and RESIDENTS ARE FOOLED!« less
  • 9 hours ago (edited)
Edward Adelbert Slavin
  • Edward Adelbert Slavin
  •  
  • Rank 0
1. At their January 16 meeting, I asked our five elected St. Johns County Commissioners to declare this proposed gigantic 120 pump gas station a public nuisance, and to exercise eminent domain to purchase the property. No response. 
2. County zoning law is poorly written and favors developers. It stinks on ice.
3. Does not protect the reasonable investment-backed expectations of residents. The Bert J. Harris, Jr. Private Property Protection Act might be invoked to protect WGV residents.
4. Reminds me of the ignorant insouciance of county zoning officials who allowed polluting asphalt plant to be built on SR207, in residential neighborhood, near HUD senior citizen housing and school.
5. Our other-directed, monochromatic all-Republican County government is a disgrace to the human race.
6. I support Cathy Gueverra, Democrat, for County Commission.« less
  • 10 hours ago
Ed Hutchins
  • Ed Hutchins
  •  
  • Rank 0
Over 18 years here, I have seen the near total destruction of St. John's County. In 18 more years it will be complete. Congratulations.
  • 10 hours ago
Edward Adelbert Slavin
  • Edward Adelbert Slavin
  •  
  • Rank 0
@Ed Hutchins Lived here since 1999. I share your evaluation. Sick twists.