Zoning approval brings Oak Creek closer to first Buc-ee's in Wisconsin

OAK CREEK, Wis. (CBS 58) -- In a pair of 5-1 votes Tuesday night, the Oak Creek Common Council voted to approve zoning changes that bring the south shore suburb one step closer to building a Buc-ee's mega gas station.

The city hall hearing room was packed with about 100 attendees, some of whom had to watch from just outside the crowded council chambers.

The Texas-based gas station chain is proposing to build a location off the Elm Road exit from I-94. The Oak Creek location, featuring 120 gas pumps and a large store on a 29-acre parcel, would be bounded by Elm Road to the north and 27th Street to the west.

The vast majority of public speakers opposed the development as most attendees live near the location.

Levi Oxford's backyard currently borders farmland along Elm Road. He said losing his view is somewhat of a concern, but he's especially worried about the potential for substantial increases in traffic and light pollution.

"We never had any sort of false ideas that this was always gonna be a farm field, you know?" Oxford said. "Farm fields change over time, but kind of the assumption based on everything would be they'd build more houses and we'd just have more neighbors, not a gas station -- giant gas station -- back there."

The council approved a zoning change that allows the proposed site to be used for commercial use. It previously had been zoned as a business park.

Stan Beard, Buc-ee's director of real estate, said Oak Creek and neighboring communities would directly benefit from housing Wisconsin's first Buc-ee's, which has developed a cult-like following.

Beard said the Oak Creek location would generate 175 full-time jobs offering competitive pay and the chance for quick promotions.

"18 to 20 bucks an hour walking in, that's the Buc-ee's starting wage," Beard said. "And benefits, health benefits, 401k, three weeks paid time off."

Others at the meeting said they supported the development. D.J. Barutha and her husband, Brian, noted they don't live next to the development, but they believed the benefits would outweigh any risks.

"I feel excited about it, I really do. I think they have a lot of things going on in there," she said. "They're cooking meals, they're doing all kinds of things inside Buc-ee's that none of our gas stations do."

Still, all but one public speaker voiced opposition to the Buc-ee's. Some of the loudest applause as for Art Donner, who owns A Storybook Farm, which borders the Buc-ee's site to the south.

Donner said he was worried about stormwater runoff during severe weather events and how light pollution would affect his animals.

"Lights are gonna be there 24 hours a day," Donner said. "Farmers tell us that horses do not retain their covers when they have light all the time. They will not retain their coat; they could be dead."

The rezoning vote is part of a much larger process. The council noted it expects to take up design elements in June, and that conversation will cover traffic flow, lighting, setbacks and stormwater runoff.

Oxford is part of a group of neighbors who've hired a lawyer to explore possible legal action against the city. He said the neighbors planned to be heard every step of the way.

"We will continue to take steps until we can't anymore to try to prevent it," he said. "Or at least have our concerns raised and met if some kind of compromise has to be made down the road."