You can almost hear them singing at Buc-ee's Home Office:

"Ain’t no stopping us now."

Well, folks, after months of meetings, studies, questions, objections, negotiations and plenty of public debate, we finally have the moment many people in Charlotte County have been waiting for: It’s a done deal.

On Tuesday, September 8, the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the final detailed site plan for Buc-ee’s Travel Center on Harborview Road in Port Charlotte. The approved project is designed to allow the applicant to proceed with applications for building and construction permits.  View the official Charlotte County project record.

So, yes. It’s a done deal. The proposed Buc-ee’s will be located at 25599 Harborview Road, within the Harborview Development of Regional Impact and near Interstate 75.

View 25599 Harborview Road on Google Maps

And this isn't going to be some little roadside convenience store.

The approved plan calls for approximately 28.34 acres and a 74,000-square-foot travel center, with 120 fueling stations and approximately 740 parking spaces, along with associated infrastructure. See the official site-plan details.

In other words: This is Buc-ee’s. And if you've ever been to one, you know exactly what that means. Huge. Busy. Fuel pumps seemingly stretching forever. Barbecue. Snacks. Merchandise. And, of course, those famous beaver souvenirs.

But getting to this point hasn't exactly been a Sunday drive.

The project has generated passionate opposition from some nearby residents, particularly over traffic, environmental issues, noise, diesel odors and the potential consequences of a fuel spill reaching the nearby Peace River.

During Tuesday's hearing, those concerns were once again voiced. Those objections, however, did not stop the project. The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the final site plan. 

Charlotte County maintains a dedicated Harborview page containing the development's orders, maps and other planning documents.  View Charlotte County’s Harborview DRI page.

Transportation has been a major part of the discussion as well. Previous county and metropolitan planning documents have addressed traffic conditions, Harborview Road improvements and the infrastructure needed to accommodate the project. Review the Charlotte County-Punta Gorda MPO planning packet.

So what happens now? The county's answer is pretty straightforward. Permitting.

The final-detail-site-plan approval allows the applicant to move forward and submit for the building and construction permits necessary to actually build the facility. See the official Charlotte County approval record. 

Approval of the site plan is a major milestone, and the next phase is permitting and construction. For the people who have been asking:

“Is Buc-ee’s really coming?” The answer just became a whole lot easier. Yes.

So turn up the music, because the message from Charlotte County is pretty clear:

Ain’t no stopping us now.

It’s a done deal.

Sources and Useful Links

• Charlotte County — Official Buc-ee’s agenda item and final-site-plan record
• Charlotte County — Harborview Development of Regional Impact
• Google Maps — 25599 Harborview Road, Port Charlotte
• Charlotte County-Punta Gorda MPO — Transportation planning documents

WANT A SAY IN WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN PORT CHARLOTTE?

Charlotte County is looking for residents to serve on local advisory boards — giving everyday people a seat at the table on issues that shape the community.

Here's something a lot of people in Port Charlotte probably don't realize: You don't have to run for office to have a voice in how the community develops. You just need to be willing to show up, pay attention and speak up.

Right now,  Charlotte County is looking for volunteers to fill openings on several advisory boards and committees.

The current notice was issued September 1, 2026, and the deadline for several of the positions is Friday, September 18.

So What Exactly Is an Advisory Board?

Think of it as a way for residents to get closer to the decisions that affect everyday life.

Want to Have a Say About Roads and Walking Around Town? One of the current opportunities is with the  Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee , better known as BPAC.

The committee makes recommendations to the  Charlotte County-Punta Gorda Metropolitan Planning Organization on bicycle and pedestrian facilities, including transportation planning and projects. The current vacancy notice lists one Mid-County representative and one representative from a local bicycle business.

That means someone who regularly walks, bikes or pays attention to how people move around Port Charlotte could potentially have a direct role in the conversation. The MPO explains that BPAC exists to make recommendations concerning bicycle and pedestrian facilities before transportation decisions are made.

There's Another Transportation Opening Too

The county is also advertising an opening on the  Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board . This particular position is for an experienced representative of the local private for-profit transportation industry. The board deals with identifying transportation service needs and providing guidance concerning transportation services for people who are transportation disadvantaged.

That might sound like government-speak. But at its core, it's about a very simple question: How do people who can't easily drive themselves get where they need to go?

And Then There's the Water. This is Charlotte County, after all. 

So naturally, waterways are part of the picture.

The county has a  Marine Advisory Committee that reviews marine-related issues, including waterways and marine facilities. The committee also considers public input and makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.

The county's  Boater Revolving Fund is another example of how local marine decisions can eventually turn into actual projects involving waterways, boating access and related infrastructure.

Planning and Development Is Another Big One

If you've ever wondered who looks at zoning changes, future development and land-use decisions, the Planning and Zoning Board is one of the places to look. The board advises the County Commission and the public on zoning, planning and future development.The county's  Planning & Zoning Division also explains how the county handles land use, rezoning, site plans, development proposals and long-range planning.

In other words, if you've ever complained that Port Charlotte is changing too fast — or not fast enough — this is the part of local government worth understanding.

Parks Have a Voice, Too

Another example is the  Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

The seven-member board advises on parks and recreation matters, with members appointed by the County Commission. Its meetings take place at Centennial Park in Port Charlotte, which means residents don't have to travel to some far-off government building just to get involved. And if parks matter to your family, that's worth paying attention to.

Beaches and Shores Are Part of the Conversation

Charlotte County also has a Beaches and Shores Advisory Committee . That committee advises the county on protecting and restoring beaches and shorelines. It also considers the environmental, economic and social importance of the county's coastal areas. Again, this is one of those things that can sound distant until you realize that beaches and shorelines are a pretty big part of life around here.

Here's the Part You Really Need to Know

The Bottom Line

You don't have to agree with every decision being made around Port Charlotte. You don't have to be a lifelong politician. And you certainly don't need to wait until election season to have an opinion. 

If you've ever said, "Someone should do something about that," this might be your chance to find out what happens when that someone is you.

Because sometimes the biggest changes in a community start with one ordinary resident deciding to show up.