MONROE COUNTY, Ga. — It's official - the beaver will build another home in Central Georgia.
Monroe County commissioners green-lit the plans for a Monroe County Buc-ee's at Monday night's commission meeting.
Now, the 30-acre lot will soon fuel up drivers in Monroe County with the right road adjustments.
Nearly 100 Monroe County residents were welcomed into the commission chambers to make their final remarks for the proposal.
Some locals who made their case at last week's Planning & Zoning meeting returned for one final push, like Zach Thomas.
"I have a vending contract at the rest area. With Buc-ee's moving in, it's literally the exit just before the rest area if you're coming southbound," Thomas said. "So it's going to destroy my business."
Thomas made his final case to the commission on behalf of small businesses in the area.
Although it wasn't the outcome he wanted, Thomas says he's still hoping for the best out of this decision.
"They make a good pitch so it's hard to sway when you got this many people and what it will do for the community," Thomas said. "I really wanted to speak for the small businesses in Monroe County and Forsyth that are really going to be affected by it. That's what I was trying to present tonight."
Traffic concerns quickly became the most prevalent topic but Buc-ee's Director of Real Estate Stan Beard Jr. reassured neighbors that they would handle it.
"There's a lot of plans to be drawn, there's a lot of approvals to get done through G-DOT, and through the county but we do this a lot," Beard said. "We do this every day. So we'll get it done."
Buc-ee's conducted a traffic impact study with G-DOT, which includes the addition of a roundabout over a signalized intersection off of the Rumble Road exit.
It was successful night for those in support of Monroe's County newest addition, like Greg Head.
"It's great that they're going to take care of the traffic, that's number one," Head said. "Our school buses, kids running through there, driving through there, it's gonna be a little bit safer."
Head serves on the Monroe County School Board and says a Buc-ee's could benefit the community in other ways, especially younger residents.
"Our schools have a huge problem with vapes, and Bucee's is not going to sell that kind of stuff," Head said. "Bring them in. They're going to bring in good taxes for our school system."
There is no set timeline for when construction will begin, but commissioners agreed that all road improvements must be installed before doors open.
Buc-ee's will privately fund road adjustments to widen and lengthen on and off ramps to handle more travelers.