PALMER LAKE, Colo. — The popular convenience store Buc-ee's could be coming to Palmer Lake after opening its first Colorado location in Johnstown in May, and already southern Colorado residents are having mixed feelings about it.
"This can't be real. It's ridiculous," Travis Dezellem said. The Palmer Lake resident organized an online petition against the proposal to put the 74,000-square-foot convenience store on the southwest side of Interstate 25 and County Line Road.
Dezellem said more than 1,200 people signed the petition in less than 48 hours.
"This is not how our community is. We don't want a giant store next to people's homes," Dezellem said.
Several homeowners KOAA News 5 spoke with who live near the proposed site are concerned about their home values.
"I think property values will go down because all they are going to be looking at is big, yellow Buc-ee's," Susan Keene said.
Southern Colorado
Buc-ee's, a road trip staple, could be coming to southern Colorado
Others who support the proposal on social media said people need more jobs, and having a Buc-ee's could help young people find employment.
Dezellem said he doesn't mind having the store to boost the local economy, but disagrees on the location.
"Not here. It doesn't make sense. It's not a good location. It's right next to people's homes," Dezellem said.
The Palmer Lake Board of Trustees will have a hearing on Dec. 12 to discuss whether it would be possible to move to the next step in annexing the county land.
The mayor of Palmer Lake said on her Facebook page, "I will gather the facts and information and hear from local residents to determine the best course of action when I am called upon to vote."
According to Palmer Lake's website, a public information meeting will be held on Dec. 3rd at 6 p.m. at Palmer Lake Elementary School, where community members can hear more information about the proposed site from the developer.
"Please listen to us. A lot of people are upset with this. It's going to make things harder for many people here," Keene said.