Buc-ee’s applies to El Paso County to expand parcel

Comments

1. BART Wilson says

   March 5, 2026 at 2:27 pm

   Thank you, John, for covering this issue.

   Allow me to voice my concern as both a long-time Monument resident and a local business owner.

   First, an important fact: the Buc-ee’s development on Monument Hill has not been approved to proceed.

   That naturally raises a question for the public. When a development project has not yet been approved, but the land is already being reshaped for it, people are justified in asking whether the process is leading the decision, or simply following it.

   According to this OCN article, Vertex Consulting—on behalf of Interstate Properties—has applied to El Paso County for a Boundary Line Adjustment (BLA) that would add roughly 11 acres, expanding the proposed Buc-ee’s parcel to about 53 acres. That request deserves careful scrutiny.

   Under the El Paso County Land Development Code, a BLA may be approved administratively, without a public hearing, if certain criteria are satisfied. One of those criteria is that the adjustment cannot result in a change in the water supply for either parcel. That requirement alone raises important questions.

   Public records indicate that filings related to commercial groundwater wells associated with this development occurred prior to the BLA certification stating there would be no change in water supply. When documents tied to the same project appear to point in different directions, it is reasonable for residents to ask for clarification before approvals move forward.

   There is also the broader water issue.

   The Town of Monument Trustees voted not to provide municipal water for the Buc-ee’s project, meaning the development would likely rely on groundwater from the Denver Basin aquifer, a resource widely recognized by state regulators as finite and essentially non-renewable.

   Colorado law also requires something else that deserves attention.

   Major developments must demonstrate an adequate 100-year water supply before approval. If the proposed Buc-ee’s parcel is being expanded to approximately 53 acres, the public deserves to see the 100-year water supply analysis supporting that development.

   Where is that report, and has it been submitted to the county?

   If groundwater from the Denver Basin aquifer is expected to supply the project, the supporting documentation showing how that demand can be sustained over a 100-year planning horizon should already exist in the development file. Given the scale of this proposed travel center, that information should be made available for public review before any administrative approvals move forward.

   The Colorado Division of Water Resources explains this clearly here:
   https://dwr.colorado.gov/services/well-permitting/denver-basin

   When the state itself describes the aquifer as non-renewable, decisions involving large commercial withdrawals should not be handled quietly through administrative paperwork. They deserve full public scrutiny.

   According to earlier impact reports circulated during the planning discussions, Buc-ee’s estimated water consumption is approximately 1,119,000 gallons per month. Buc-ee’s locations are known for their extremely large restrooms, high visitor traffic, and extensive food service operations. A typical Buc-ee’s may include 80–120 restroom fixtures and serve 5,000 to 10,000 visitors per day, with peak days reaching even higher numbers. When food preparation, ice production, irrigation, and facility maintenance are included, water demand can increase significantly.

   There are also legitimate questions about wastewater capacity. Monument’s wastewater system is already under pressure from recent development, and a project of this scale would inevitably generate additional demand.

   Given the scale of the proposed Buc-ee’s development, the water implications involved, and the questions raised by the filings, many residents believe this matter should be elevated to a public hearing before the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, where the facts can be examined transparently.
   Which brings us back to the question many residents are now asking:

   If the Buc-ee’s development has not yet been approved, why does the site appear to be staging for construction?

   While driving past Monument Hill on the evening of March 3rd, I observed large water trucks and heavy equipment positioned on the proposed property. In the construction industry, equipment is rarely staged on private land unless work is expected to begin.

   If the water supply truly has not changed, as the Boundary Line Adjustment certification suggests, the public should be able to see the reports that support that conclusion.
   Because water resources are involved, I am documenting the filings and related activity associated with this project and sharing the information with local officials and professionals familiar with watershed oversight so that any necessary review can occur.

   Facts are stubborn things—eventually they insist on being seen.

   — Bart Wilson
   Monument Resident & Business Owner

   Reply

2. BART Wilson says

   March 5, 2026 at 2:30 pm

   One additional question for the county: if the parcel is expanding to 53 acres, does the previously submitted water analysis still apply, or must a new 100-year water supply demonstration be filed?

   Reply

   • John Heiser says

     March 5, 2026 at 4:35 pm

     Hi Bart,

     You need to convey your questions and issues to El Paso County planning. Email your concerns to Kylie Bagley, Project Manager kyliebagley@elpasoco.com, (719) 520-6323.

     In your email, clearly reference “EXBL261” or “Project 212065 – Interstate 25 Properties and Monument Ridge West”, state that you are submitting public comments/objections for the official project record, and include your name and contact information. Attach any supporting documents if relevant.

     Submit as soon as possible while the file is “Active” as review comments from agencies are already being processed. This ensures your input is officially logged and considered in the administrative review process.

     You may also wish to send your comments to the county as a certified letter.

     If the project later advances to a hearing or major application, additional public comment opportunities will be announced.

     For general questions about the process, call El Paso County Planning & Community Development at (719) 520-6300.

     Regards, John Heiser

     Reply

     • BART Wilson says

       March 7, 2026 at 2:15 pm

       Thank you, John.

       Solid advice. Always send letters of this importance with a signature required.

       All the best,

       — Bart

       Reply