Buc-ee's draws opposition before St. Johns County receives application

1,500 sign Change.org petition against building mega-gas station at WGV

ST. JOHN COUNTY, Fla. – A mega gas station with more than 100 gas pumps and a large convenience store proposed for the International Golf Parkway exit of Interstate 95 is already drawing opposition.

Aaron Enos, lives in a World Golf Village neighborhood behind where the project might be built, started a change.org petition against a Buc-ee's. He said it wouldn't be a business that benefits locals.

"We don’t want to turn into a rest stop on 95, especially with a place that really is almost something that belongs in Orlando next to Disney, with massive amounts of beef jerky and snacks," said Enos.

Buc-ee's is a big name in Texas, but is new to Florida. One is set to open soon in Daytona Beach and the chain is looking to expand into St. Johns County.

Enos' petition has already drawn more than 1,500 signatures.

"The right type of developments out here for the World Golf Village community would be things that our residents can use. Things that aren’t going to bring our property values down. Things that look good next to the World Golf Hall of Fame," Enos said.

Not everyone in the area is opposed to Buc-ee's.

"There’s going to be the traffic no matter what," Jenni Cherry said. "It’s kind of going to be more convenient for us getting gas and having things we can hop right over to and get what we need. I’m good with that.

"I think it would be a good thing, would be a new opportunity for a lot of jobs," Dillon Greene said.

While the residents will weigh in for and against Buc-ee's, the decision whether it would be allowed lies with the county.

Henry Dean, county commissioner for the area, said Buc-ee's hasn't officially filed an application to build at the site. He said he hasn't taken a position on the project and won't until he has heard from everyone who wants to speak on the matter. 

Dean added that his gut tells him it’s probably not the best location because of the number of residential neighborhoods in the area.

News4Jax asked Buc-ee's for comment, but has not heard from the company.