Boerne planning panel approves Buc-ee’s final plat amid resident calls for more disclosure

Boerne — The City of Boerne Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a final plat for a Buc-ee’s service site at 33375 Interstate 10 West during its January meeting after staff told commissioners technical reviews had been completed.

Francesca Linder of the City of Boerne planning department told the commission the proposed final plat creates three nonresidential lots across 27.55 acres and includes a 9.14-acre Lot 3 dedicated to the city as open space. Linder said the plat substantially conforms to the previously approved preliminary plat and the city’s subdivision regulations and that the traffic impact analysis (TIA) and utility commitments had been reviewed.

The vote came after public commenters and several commissioners pressed for more time or transparency. Dana Mathis, a resident who signed up to speak, said packet language implying the submission was "consistent with the proposed amended agreement" was misleading because the amendment had not been finalized or published. "Please don't approve this plat until we have the finalized amendment, clarity regarding the ownership and zoning of the 9 acres, and the final version of the TIA," Mathis said.

City engineering staff said the TIA was approved administratively at the end of the prior Wednesday after multiple rounds of revisions with the applicant. "They finally provided a product that met all of our requirements. We approved it," Director Carroll said. Staff also said a third-party consultant and TxDOT reviewed and signed off on the model used in the study.

Legal counsel advised the commission of a statutory timeline that constrains action on final plats. "State law requires after the completed application for final plat is presented for your review, you have a 30 day state law limitation on when you have to act," counsel said, citing the calendar running from the department's receipt of the final plat (staff recorded receipt on Jan. 8).

With that timing, Bob Katz moved to approve the final plat; Commissioner Byrd seconded. Commissioners debated whether a delay to give the public more time to review the recently approved TIA would change the outcome; several commissioners noted the commission does not have authority to approve or modify administrative infrastructure approvals such as the TIA and that appeals or other city-council-level actions would be the appropriate avenue for public concerns. The motion passed unanimously.

Chair Crane thanked public speakers and said the commission expects the city council to take any next steps required under the development agreement and other approvals.

What happens next: With the planning commission's recommendation and the final plat approved subject to clerical corrections and stipulated conditions, the matter moves to required administrative steps and further city-level approvals tied to the development agreement and recordation process.