MANSFIELD — The next step in the process toward a Buc-ee’s Travel Center is expected to come before City Council on Tuesday night.
Local lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the annexation of 110 acres of land on and around the otherwise undeveloped Interstate 71/Ohio 39 interchange.
A public hearing on the annexation request is scheduled Tuesday at 6:45 p.m.
City Council is also expected to vote on B-2 general business zoning for the property, which would be annexed from Madison Township and Mifflin Township and includes land owned by the state of Ohio as part of I-71.
The city Planning Commission voted in April to recommend the zoning plan.
Under the city’s zoning code, the purpose of a general business district is to “provide for more diversified business establishments which are not generally located adjacent to residential neighborhoods. The General Business District contains shopping areas which are community wide or regional in nature and should be served by State highways or at least four-lane streets.”
The development could mean more than 200 full-time jobs in the city at a retail site that would encompass more than 70,000 square feet. Officials have said it’s a 35-acre development that would result in additional revenue in terms of income, sales and property taxes that would benefit the city, county and townships.
The Texas-based Buc-ee’s contracted with the Kimley-Horn design and engineering firm to help engineer its new Huber Heights location.
It’s working with the firm again in the land plan for a Mansfield site that would meet local requirements, as well as regulatory standards with the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Ohio EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Lawmakers will not vote on the development plan between the city and company officials. Mayor Jodie Perry had previously said she hoped to have that plan ready for a vote at the same time as the annexation and zoning.
However, she said, the development plan was not quite ready.
“As our legal teams work together on finalizing the development agreement, it became apparent that we needed just a little more time to fine-tune a few details,” Perry said.
“The team at Buc-ee’s has been great to work with and I remain excited about the benefit to our community,” the mayor said.
If the annexation is approved, city water and sewer lines would be extended onto the property. The city would also be responsible for police and fire services at the site.
The annexation process began in March with a request from the property owner, Charles E. Ross, administrator of the Peter G. Ross Jr. estate, to have about 55 acres annexed into the city from Madison and Mifflin townships.
The other half of the land in question is owned by the State of Ohio as part of I-71.
The annexation has been approved by trustees in Madison and Mifflin townships, as well as the Richland County Board of Commissioners.
Numerous residents have attended past public meetings to speak against the proposal, including farmers and residents in that area.
They have expressed concerns about increased traffic on nearby smaller roads not ready for the development, potential water pollution and flooding from the sprawling outlet, lowered property values and a general lower quality of life in their rural area.
more coverage of the proposed buc-ee’s travel center in mansfield
Council is also scheduled on Tuesday to:
— discuss during caucus the acceptance of two parcels of land totaling 110 acres being donated by the West Creek Conservancy. The land on Bowers Road in Springfield Township was a significant part of the former Camp Avery Hand, a scouting camp.
In January, lawmakers approved an agreement for the donation of a conservation easement to assure the protected area would be preserved in its natural, forested condition as a habitat for plants and wildlife and a buffer zone for streams.
The legislation is scheduled for a vote on July 21.
— vote on an agreement allowing the Ohio Department of Transportation to do road work this summer on Ohio 314 and Ohio 545 in Richland County, work that will include bridge maintenance and guardrail replacement within Mansfield city limits.
— vote on the adoption of the Richland COunty 2026 multi-hazard mitigation plan as approved by FEMA Region V and the State of Ohio Emergency Management Agency.
— vote on a proposal to grant a license to Ben Schrock of 2991 County Road 529, Loudonville, to tap into the city’s water and sanitary sewer systems at his own expense.
— vote on a proposal to upgrade wages, salaries, fringe benefits and terms of employment for certain city employees. The bill will be discussed during a City Council employee relations committee meeting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
(Below is a PDF with legislation scheduled for Mansfield City Council on Tuesday evening.)
