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Residents warn commissioners the proposed 'Bucky' super center could strain aquifers and local services
Summary
Public commenters at the El Paso County commissioners meeting raised water, environmental, transparency and property‑value concerns about a proposed Bucky Super Center (referred to in comments as 'Bucky' or 'BIES'). Speakers urged the board to preserve public records and consider constituent opposition.
Several residents used the public‑comment portion of the April 28 El Paso County commissioners meeting to press the board on a proposed large retail development variously called "Bucky," "Buckyy's" or "BIES" in the transcript.
Laurel Scowl told commissioners that public comment and written materials are immediately part of the public record and argued the board could adopt procedural reforms to ensure prior jurisdictional records are entered into future land‑use hearings. In the meeting transcript she said, "Public comment ... is part of the public record the moment it is spoken," and urged the commission to require that full records from prior jurisdictions be entered so citizens' views are preserved.
Steve Fischer, who said he lives about a half‑mile from the proposed site, raised environmental and water‑supply concerns. He told the board he believes the planned store will rely on large groundwater withdrawals near the Denver Basin aquifers and cited a series of depletion figures and local recharge numbers in arguing the project risks nearby domestic wells. He also warned the county could lose tax revenue if nearby home values fall as a result.
Speakers repeatedly framed their remarks as protective of the record and of local water supplies; they urged commissioners to consider constituent opposition and to incorporate documentary records into any quasi‑judicial process. There was no formal response or vote on the project at the meeting; commissioners advised speakers about procedural limits on public comment time and quasi‑judicial restrictions.
The meeting record includes the public comments verbatim; speakers cited "CRS 24642" when referring to public‑record obligations in the transcript. Commissioners and staff reminded a few speakers of the three‑minute time limit and procedural rules.
