Fate Of Planned Burr Ridge Gas Station Hinges On Hours

BURR RIDGE, IL – A new gas station is planned for Kingery Highway in Burr Ridge, but one issue may stop it from happening.

On Thursday, an executive said his company would pull the project if the village does not approve it as a 24-hour operation.

On May 2, the village's Plan Commission voted unanimously to recommend allowing a Thorntons gas station at 9115 Kingery Highway.

The meeting minutes indicate the company's request was to be open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Just after the vote, Phillip Bolduc, real estate manager for Thorntons, said he was unaware of the restriction on hours. He asked whether the commission could amend its decision.

The commission said it could not and that a new hearing would be required.

In a May 18 letter, Bolduc requested the village consider the company's request for 24 hours. He said the request was based on further internal discussions at the corporate level.

"The 24-hour operations are necessary to provide brand consistency among other Thorntons stores, which are open 24 hours," he said.

He said a nearby gas station outside village limits is open 24 hours. It is a Speedway.

In an interview Thursday, Bolduc said an oversight in the paperwork resulted in the confusion over the hours.

"We hired an engineering firm to prepare a lot of the paperwork before us," he said.

Because of the competitive environment, the station needs to be open around the clock, Bolduc said.

"We wouldn't proceed if it weren't 24 hours," he said.

The station would add to the village's tax base, Bolduc said. And its lighting would not be spread to neighboring houses, he said.

"We're excited to become members of Burr Ridge," he said.

Last week, the Village Board sent the issue over hours back to the Plan Commission. The commission is set to take up the matter at its June 20 meeting.