JOHNSTOWN — The area around the interchange of Interstate 25 and Colorado Highway 60 is on its way to becoming a major commercial and residential hub in Northern Colorado, and it got a few steps closer Monday night after the Johnstown town council unanimously approved several measures relating to the Buc-ee’s and Ledge Rock Center developments.

The council approved the site development plan for Buc-ee’s and the first two subdivision plats for Ledge Rock Center. 

Buc-ee’s, the first Colorado location for the chain of massive gas stations and convenience stores, will be located at the southwest corner of I-25 and Colorado Highway 60. At 74,000 square feet with 116 fueling spaces, it will tie another upcoming Buc-ee’s location in Sevierville, Tennessee, as the world’s largest convenience store. 

Buc-ee’s locations use their Texas-sized stores to smoke barbecue in-house, craft homemade fudge and sell everything from road-trip snacks to home goods. The chain’s famous bathrooms were designed by Buc-ee’s LLC founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, and feature floor-to-ceiling walls around each stall and bright lights.

Ledge Rock Center, the development for which the council approved two subdivision plats, will be located on the east side of I-25. It is planned to have 750,000 square feet of commercial space and 1,200 residential units. It will also feature two hotels totaling 220 rooms and 35,000 square feet. One tenant has already signed on: Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply, which will occupy a 50,000-square-foot space.

The subdivision plats approved Monday deal with the areas directly along Highway 60, which will be expanded as part of the project. It currently has one lane of travel in each direction, with a turn lane in the middle. Plans call to add an additional lane of travel in each direction. 

The council had previously approved a 2% sales-tax credit for Ledge Rock Center.