How would a proposed Buc-ee’s impact the Monument Hill area? Just ask Johnstown, Colo.

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - Following the proposal for a Buc-ees location near Palmer Lake off of I-25 in El Paso County, Johnstown city officials who welcomed the first Beaver-themed travel stop in 2024, are sharing how the famous chain has impacted their area.

Last month, it was announced that Buc-ees was eyeing a new location to be built off I-25 and County Line road near Palmer Lake. The proposal has left Monument Hill residents up in arms, with an online petition against the Buc-ees now accruing nearly 3,000 signatures.

Residents in the Monument and Palmer Lake area then made their voices heard at a fiery public meeting on Tuesday night, where Buc-ees developer team members were in attendance to answer questions.

The meeting became rowdy rather quickly, with area homeowners expressing grave concerns over traffic buildup, which will only be worsened by messy weather conditions, as well as the strain of high water demand, and energy, it will have on the small-town community.

Residents even shared their experience having traveled to the Buc-ees that was built just outside Johnstown along the interstate, where they claim that neighbors say the traffic back-ups can often times be severe, forcing locals to take earlier exits to avoid the traffic to get to their homes.

KRDO13 spoke with an official from Johnstown to learn about the impact the small community has faced since the Buc-ees' emergence March 2024.

The Johnstown location is situated just north of the Denver metro area at the southwest corner of Interstate 25 and County Road 48. According to our 9News partners in Denver, the location is 74,000-square-feet, with 116 fueling positions and 12 EV charging stations.

Sarah Crosthwaite, the Economic Development Manager for Johnstown says that since it's opening -- Buc-ees has created at least 250 jobs, and brought more traffic to their other shopping centers in town.

"They're good paying jobs, so we're excited about that." said Crosthwaite.

One family owned liquor store right across the street from the Buc-ees, tells KRDO13 over the phone that they were initially concerned when the 74,000 square foot travel stop was going to become their neighbor, but stated that conversely, their business has actually become better.

They say it's because of more drivers passing by, and because of Buc-ees only having the ability to sell beer and wine, but not liquor.

When it comes to traffic, Monument Hill homeowners claimed that a Buc-ees off of County Line Road, would clog up the interstate.

Crosthwaite says that Buc-ees made several road improvements to County Road 48, where the Johnstown location is situated, during its construction, on top of projects that the town did itself, working with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).

"Yes, there was some traffic concerns in the beginning, but the roads were able to adequately handle  the folks that were coming in." explained Crosthwaite.

One man on Tuesday night however, said that he even drove to the Johntown location, ahead of the public meeting to speak to employees and neighbors that live near the famous convenience chain. While speaking on the microphone, he recalled that a resident who lives near the Buc-ees says traffic can certainly cause headaches.

"I had to go two exits down to get on and off the highway from my house  because the traffic was so bad." the man said, referring to the anecdote that a nearby neighbor told him.

Those living around Monument Hill also explained their grave concerns about water demand, and the strain that such a large travel stop would put on their small community.

However Crosthwaite stated that Buc-ees, had guidelines they had to follow, and handled that concern all by themselves.

"So like any development, or any user coming into our community, we expect those developers or users to bring water with them." said the Economic Development Manager. "We do not have a cache in the program. And so Bucky's is no different for that. In order for them to have developed and been able to get construction acceptance, they have dedicated water that supports their demand on our system." she said.

As far as tax revenue earned by the Buc-ees' emergence in their community, Johnstown officials did not have the exact figure to provide on Thursday, because that data is traced by the State.

However, Croswaithe assured that good impacts are being felt in the community.

"What I can say with our experience having a Buc-ees here, it's been positive."

Crosthwaite did not make any comments or give any notion of endorsements in regard to the proposed Buc-ees near Palmer Lake, but instead wished to offer observations to KRDO13 of their experience thus far.