Caldwell County approves incentive agreement to build bigger Buc-ee’s

What’s bigger than Buc-ee’s?

A bigger Buc-ee’s.

The Caldwell County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, April 12, unanimously approved a Chapter 381 incentive agreement to help the Luling travel center expand next door to the existing store.

Caldwell County Judge Hoppy Haden did not go into details about the agreement, but did say Buc-ee’s Ltd. would receive a “rebate” to remain in Caldwell County and they would be building a much bigger store next to the one that opened at the intersection of Interstate 10 and US 183 in 2001 as the company’s first full-fledged travel center.

The current store has expanded twice previously, doubling in size to 17,000-square-feet in 2006 and then doubling again to more than 34,000-square-feet in 2009.

According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office, Chapter 381 of the Texas Local Government Code allows counties to provide incentives encouraging developers to build in their jurisdictions. A county may administer and develop a program to make loans and grants of public money to promote state or local economic development and to stimulate, encourage and develop business location and commercial activity in the county.

The county also may develop and administer a program for entering into a tax abatement agreement. This tool allows counties to negotiate directly with developers and businesses.

Buc-ee’s is also seeking a similar Chapter 380 agreement from the Luling City Council.