CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)—Charlotte County commissioners approved site plans for what could be Southwest Florida’s first Buc-ee’s in a 4-0 vote.

County documents show the gas station would be around 74,000 square feet with 120 fuel stations and 740 parking spots. The location would be at the I-75 exit on Harborview Road, right on the Peace River.

Neighbors expressed concerns about the environmental impact. County officials say Buc-ee’s went above and beyond to protect the environment.

The company exceeded county standards on the dry pond, which is built to withstand a 100-year flood. Runoff will be pushed to a pond north of the property away from the Peace River.

County staff said the project has necessary approvals from state and federal officials to build there. Some neighbors say just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.

“Imagine all the stuff that’s running off. So yes, they talk about having you know places that this runoff is going to go to, but again, there’s you never know what Mother Nature is going to bring,” Edie Driest of Harbour Heights said.

“It’s probably a great tax revenue, good jobs. But on the Peace River, you know, if you don’t live there, if you don’t use it, if you don’t see what’s going on there? Then you just don’t understand,” Dreama Doolittle of Harbour Heights said.

Commissioners said they hear folks’ concerns about over-development. This Buc-ee’s is part of larger plans for housing on the north side of I-75.

Commissioners said developers agreed to eliminate several thousand housing units in exchange for the Buc-ee’s. That land was already slated for commercial use.

Neighbors told WINK News they’re not against Buc-ee’s itself. They’re worried about what a development of this size could mean for traffic and if it could make flooding problems worse.

Community Development Director Ben Bailey said they will review the elevation and whether it fits within the flood zone when the final building permit comes in. The site plan is moving forward, but the project will still need to get the necessary permits.