Monroe County clears way for Buc-ee’s travel center near Rumble Road, I-75
The Monroe County Commission voted Monday night to approve zoning variances and a special use permit for a proposed 74,000-square-foot Buc-ee’s travel center near Rumble Road and Interstate 75.
FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The Monroe County Commission voted Monday night to approve zoning variances and a special use permit for a proposed 74,000-square-foot Buc-ee’s travel center near Rumble Road and Interstate 75.
The store, known for its clean restrooms and seemingly-endless food items, is planned for a build site on the southbound side of the interstate. It is expected to create at least 200 full-time jobs, not including part-time or seasonal positions, according to Stan Beard, Director of Real Estate and Development for Buc-ee’s.
“We pay well, anywhere from 17 to 20 bucks an hour walking in starting pay. 401k, health, you name it,” Beard said. “We overuse this term, but it’s a living wage job. It’s a job that one wage earner in a family can raise a family, and we’re proud of that.”
Monday’s decision followed a public comment session where residents spoke both for and against the development. Supporters spoke about potential economic benefits and job creation, while opponents spoke about traffic and local infrastructure. Beard said the company would fund any needed infrastructure upgrades.
The proposal required a special use permit because it exceeds the usual 45,000-square-foot limit. Variances were also granted to exceed zoning regulations for signage, including wall signage larger than typically permitted and a 125-foot pole sign visible from the interstate. The matter was sent to the commission after Monroe County Planning and Zoning failed to reach a decision.
Buc-ee’s, founded in Texas in 1982, already operates Georgia locations in Warner Robins and Calhoun, and another location is under construction in Brunswick. The Warner Robins and Calhoun locations are both 53,000 square feet, while the Brunswick location, like the one proposed for Monroe County, will be 74,000 square feet.
“We decided to go bigger mainly because it was just getting too crowded inside,” Beard said Monday, mentioning the company’s first 74,000-square-foot store built in Sevierville, Tennessee in 2023. “Our whole goal is to provide a great experience for the customer, and we realized they just needed some more elbow room.”
No timeline has been announced for construction on the Monroe County site.
An illustration presented during Monday’s meeting shows what the proposed Bucee’s would look like in Monroe County. (Photo: Monroe County Board of Commissioners/Facebook)
