Gas Station Gets Burr Ridge's OK, Despite Opposition

BURR RIDGE, IL – Thorntons said it wouldn't open a gas station in Burr Ridge if the village rejected its request to be open 24 hours.

The chain got its wish this week. The Village Board voted unanimously to allow the around-the-clock station on Kingery Highway, south of McDonald's.

A few months ago, the village's Plan Commission approved the station. But the company failed to ask for a 24-hour schedule. So it went through the commission again last week, which voted 4-3 for the request.

In the days afterward, though, neighbors organized against a 24-hour station. They presented a petition opposing the project that they said contained more than 140 signatures.

They said the petition included signatures from residents in the Burr Ridge Senior Living retirement home, which is to the east.

Its owner, Colorado-based Spectrum Retirement Communities, objected to the station at first. But it came out in support after Thorntons promised a landscaping buffer.

The proposed 24-hour Thorntons gas station would be south of McDonald's on Kingery Highway. It would be east of Burr Ridge Senior Living retirement home, which is in the background. (Google Maps)

Opponents said Spectrum did not consult with its residents about the gas station.

One of the neighbors, JoAnn Krypel, said her concerns about the 24-hour station included the safety of the community and Thorntons employees.

She noted large apartment complexes on the other side of Route 83.

"The proximity of the apartment complexes is the main security concern," she said. "There have been many impromptu gatherings in the parking lot of the strip mall directly across Route 83. These include liquor, very loud music and fireworks. Large groups of people descending on a station with one clerk at 1 or 2 a.m. could potentially overwhelm that person."

Thorntons said it typically has two or three clerks working at night.

Trustee Tony Schiappa, who is the village's liquor commissioner, said he was fine with the station selling beer and wine, but had concerns if it offered hard liquor.

"To me, if there are hard spirits, it's more of a destination," he said.

He was told that a liquor license would be approved later.

After nearly an hour of discussion, the board approved the station.