FORT PIERCE, Fla (CBS12) — Buc-ee’s may be best known for its massive travel centers, barbecue sandwiches and loyal fan base, but on the Treasure Coast, county leaders say the proposed development could signal something even bigger: a wave of growth along the Indrio Road corridor in northern St. Lucie County.
After years of planning and review, the proposed Buc-ee’s at Interstate 95 and Indrio Road has completed the county’s planning process, bringing the long-discussed project one step closer to reality.
The proposed 76,000-square-foot travel center would feature approximately 120 fuel pumps and could become the largest Buc-ee’s location in Florida.
A “Buc-ee’s Loading…” billboard along Interstate 95 near the proposed development site advertises the future travel center planned for northern St. Lucie County. (WPEC)
Buc-ee’s Nearing Construction PhaseAccording to St. Lucie County Planning and Development Services Director Benjamin Balcer, the project has cleared its local planning hurdles.
“They are completely 100% finished with the planning process,” Balcer said. “Our board will not see this again.”
Balcer said the company is now awaiting final approvals from the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection before construction can begin.
“As far as the county is concerned, their building permit and their site development permit is pretty much at the tail end and ready to go,” Balcer said. “It’s really just pulling the trigger on Buc-ee’s end to start the process.”
Buc-ee’s has previously targeted a 2028 opening date.
A drone view shows the proposed Buc-ee’s site near I-95 and Indrio Road in Fort Pierce, where St. Lucie County officials say development interest continues to grow. (WPEC)
Development Interest Growing Along Indrio Road
While the travel center itself would bring jobs and tax revenue, county officials say its presence also shines a spotlight on a corridor already attracting significant development interest.
For now, much of the area remains undeveloped, with cattle grazing across wide stretches of rural land.
But Balcer said developers are increasingly looking at opportunities along Indrio Road.
“It’s kind of an untapped resource,” he said. “At the moment, we’re seeing a lot of development interest, whether that’s pre-application meetings, developers coming in and talking about concept plans, or actual formal applications.”
Benjamin Balcer, St. Lucie County’s Planning and Development Services director, says development interest is increasing along the Indrio Road corridor. (WPEC)
Balcer stopped short of calling Buc-ee’s the direct catalyst for that interest, but acknowledged that a major national company can influence future investment decisions.
“I don’t know if Buc-ee’s is a catalyst that actually drives development,” he said. “But whenever you have a large national commercial entity like Buc-ee’s, it does move the needle whenever people see that type of investment.”
Why the Corridor Is Attracting Attention
The area has benefited from recent road and utility improvements, making it increasingly attractive for future residential and commercial projects.
County officials say they are already seeing proposals emerge throughout the area.
“But all through that Indrio Road corridor, we do see more retail, mixed-use residential projects that are starting to come in and gain traction,” Balcer said.
Several large developments are either proposed or moving through the review process near the future Buc-ee’s site.
The proposed Club at Indrio Creek, located south of Indrio Road, could bring hundreds of new homes to the area.
Another proposal, Indrio Town Center, would transform approximately 85 acres near Indrio Road and Emerson Avenue into a mixed-use development featuring retail, office space and residential uses.
Perhaps the most controversial proposal was Indrio Groves, a development planned near Spanish Lakes Fairways that could add more than 3,000 homes to the area. The size of that proposal has raised concerns among nearby residents who worry about traffic and infrastructure demands. The discussion was tabled over the summer.
Open pasture stretches across the proposed Buc-ee’s site, where significant development could take shape in the coming years. (WPEC)
Residents Voice Infrastructure Concerns
But as development proposals continue to stack up, some residents worry infrastructure isn’t keeping pace.
“That’s what people are concerned about,” said Jeff Bourassa, president of the Spanish Lakes Fairways Homeowners Association. “There’s no place to go. If they put another 3,000 homes, we’re in trouble.”
Bourassa said residents are worried local roads are not equipped to handle the level of growth being proposed.
“We’ve got Johnston Road. You’ve got Koblegard. They’re cowpaths,” Bourassa said. “There’s nothing that was put in for infrastructure.”
County officials say they understand those concerns.
“People are concerned,” Balcer said. “Traffic impacts, changing their lifestyle. This is a historical agricultural kind of community.”
Jeff Bourassa, president of the Spanish Lakes Fairways Homeowners Association, says residents are concerned about whether local infrastructure can keep pace with future growth. (WPEC)
Looking Ahead
Whether Buc-ee’s ultimately becomes a transformational project remains to be seen. County leaders say the larger story is what comes next for the surrounding area.
If Buc-ee’s opens and several proposed developments move forward, the character of the Indrio Road corridor could change dramatically over the next decade.
“If Buc-ee’s does come online, and the projects that are in the pipeline do develop,” Balcer said, “you’ll see a big difference in the Indrio Road corridor.”