Urbandale’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 10 approved a petition to amend the city’s comprehensive plan for a >20‑acre parcel just north of Interstate 35/80, a step that brings the prospect of a Buc‑ee’s travel center in central Iowa closer to reality.
The site, at the southeast corner of 100th Street and Northpark Drive near Exit 128, is owned by Macon Realty Co., a Des Moines firm led by the Cownie family. City documents link the parcel to CSMS Management, a Texas entity that shares an address with Buc‑ee’s offices and is listed as a contract purchaser. The documents include Buc‑ee’s letterhead and name Stan Beard Jr., the company’s real estate and development director, as CSMS’ contact.
What city approval means
The approved amendment shifts the property from agricultural designation to allow corridor commercial development. City staff described the move as a necessary first step to accommodate a use consistent with highway‑oriented retail and travel centers. The land’s direct access to the interstate was highlighted in the petition as a "significant, if not singular" reason Buc‑ee’s selected the site.
If constructed as described in the application, the Urbandale Buc‑ee’s would be a roughly 74,000‑square‑foot store — larger than many big‑box retail footprints — with the company’s characteristic combination of fuel pumps, a souvenir and food retail operation, and expanded indoor space for customers.
What Buc‑ee’s says about operations
“We are not a truck stop,”
Beard told the commission that Buc‑ee’s does not cater to semi‑tractor trailers and that the chain’s model focuses on drawing visitors into the store as much as fueling vehicles. He said the experience is designed to encourage in‑store purchases rather than serving as a freight fueling hub.
Who owns the land and who is involved
Macon Realty Co., which holds the parcel, is overseen by the Cownie family. Frank Cownie, the former Des Moines mayor, signed the petition as a director of Macon Realty and spoke at the commission meeting, according to city records. CSMS Management is identified in city paperwork as a contract purchaser; its ties to Buc‑ee’s headquarters are reflected by the shared Texas address and the company reference on Buc‑ee’s letterhead.
City documents dated July 13 state the petition is the initial step "required for a Buc‑ee’s Travel Center project." The materials also note the site’s interstate access as pivotal to Buc‑ee’s interest and state the location could be the company’s first and possibly only Iowa travel center.
Local impacts and next steps
The zoning amendment approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission does not authorize construction. It changes the comprehensive plan language to allow corridor commercial development; further approvals will be needed for specific site plans, building permits and any infrastructure work tied to water, sewer and traffic access.
Residents and city officials will likely see traffic studies, stormwater plans and parking layouts in subsequent filings. The company’s stated refusal to serve semi‑tractors may shape access design and the number and arrangement of fuel pumps, but the 74,000‑square‑foot retail footprint suggests a substantial customer draw that could affect nearby roads and services.
How quickly the project proceeds depends on additional municipal approvals and final agreements between Macon Realty and CSMS/Buc‑ee’s. The commission action is an early procedural milestone; commercial development of large interstate parcels typically moves through several layers of review.
- Site size: more than 20 acres
- Proposed store size: about 74,000 square feet
- Location: southeast corner of 100th Street and Northpark Drive, north of I‑35/80 Exit 128
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Owner | Macon Realty Co. (Cownie family) |
| Contract purchaser | CSMS Management (Texas address; tied to Buc‑ee’s) |
| Zoning change | Agricultural to corridor commercial (approved by P&Z) |
Questions residents may have
Neighbors and commuters are likely to ask about traffic impacts, hours of operation, employment opportunities, environmental effects and the timeline for construction. Because the proposal identifies this site as a potential singular Iowa location, it also raises questions about regional retail competition and the role of major travel centers in suburban growth corridors.
At this stage, the public record indicates clear interest from Buc‑ee’s and its representatives as well as ownership by a local realty company with political ties. The commission’s vote moves the project into a phase where more detailed engineering and permit requests will provide answers about traffic mitigation, stormwater management and the construction schedule.
City staff and commission members will review those materials in future meetings, and additional public hearings will likely follow. Until then, the zoning amendment is a formal nod that Urbandale is considering accommodating a large, interstate‑oriented retail and travel center on a prominent piece of land just off the highway.
— Meredith Kowalski, State Correspondent
