A District Court Judge in El Paso County dismissed a lawsuit on Friday that sought to derail the development of a popular Buc-ee’s travel center in the town of Palmer Lake.
A group calling itself Integrity Matters sued the town in January, contesting the process leading up to a vote of the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees. The board voted 6-1 in May in favor of annexing land west of Interstate 25 and north of Monument so the popular Texas-based chain could open its second Colorado location.
Judge William B. Bain found the plaintiffs lacked standing to contest the annexation and had insufficient legal grounds for other complaints.
“The Court’s ruling confirms that the claims brought against the Town were without sufficient legal basis to move forward,” an unsigned news release from the town states. “While the order itself is concise, it firmly upholds the key arguments the Town presented and provides a solid foundation should an appeal be pursued.”
Representatives for Integrity Matters did not respond to a request for comment Sunday afternoon.
The proposal has drawn considerable backlash from locals, state officials, and both of Colorado’s U.S. senators for its potential impact on the nearby Greenland Ranch open space and its drain on water.
Residents of the town have since recalled two of the trustees who voted in favor and passed a measure requiring voters to approve future annexations.
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