Plans for Iowa’s first Buc-ee’s have been rejected by the Urbandale City Council.
The council voted 3-2 against a requested land-use change for a 20-acre property at the southeast corner of Northwest 100th Street and Northpark Drive, near the Interstate 35/80 interchange.
Buc-ee’s proposed building a 74,000-square-foot travel center at the site. Plans called for about 60 fuel pumps, more than 20 electric vehicle chargers and a 24-hour operation.
The company projected an investment of more than $60 million and more than 200 full-time jobs, with starting wages expected to range from $19 to $22 an hour. Buc-ee’s also projected the location could attract millions of visitors annually.
The property is currently designated for mixed-use development under Urbandale’s comprehensive plan. The requested change to corridor-commercial zoning was needed to accommodate the proposed development.
Traffic was a major concern surrounding the proposal because of the site’s location near the busy I-35/80 interchange. Residents also raised concerns about the size of the development, environmental impacts associated with the fueling operation and noise from a business operating around the clock.
The vote prevents the proposed Buc-ee’s development from moving forward at the Urbandale site.
Buc-ee’s does not currently have a location in Iowa. The company has plans for a location in Gretna, Nebraska, near Omaha, and construction is underway on a Buc-ee’s in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, which is expected to open in 2028.
