Elmhurst Gas Station Foes Organizing

ELMHURST, IL — Andi Tseng, who lives on Elmhurst's north side, says she and her neighbors had no idea that Mariano's grocery store was planning a gas station in their neighborhood until an Elmhurst Patch story last month.

"None of our neighbors we’ve spoken with are in favor of a gas station being built at the main entrance to the Crestview Park subdivision," Tseng said in an email to Patch.

She said she wanted to alert the public to a meeting of the Elmhurst Zoning and Planning Commission at 7 p.m. Nov. 17 at City Hall, where the project is expected to be on the agenda. Several gas stations, she said, are near the proposed site.

"The north side of Elmhurst has really been built up. This doesn't seem to meet a community need," Tseng said in an interview.

The gas station is being proposed for the northeast corner of York Street and Crestview Avenue, which is now a gravel lot. At 619 N. York St., it would be across from the entrance and exit to Interstate 290.

The city notified property owners within 500 feet of the proposed site for the station and posted a sign on the property, a city spokeswoman said. An ad was also published in a local newspaper.

Two weeks ago, a Facebook group called "York/Crestview Gas Station Appeal" formed and had about 80 members as of Friday. According to a post on the page, more than 500 flyers have been distributed in the neighborhood and yard signs are being ordered.

In her email to Patch, Tseng cited health and safety concerns for families with young children such as hers and others, including patrons at a business plaza across the street.

"Especially concerning is that within roughly 300 feet from the proposed gas station site are a swim school and a preschool that serve young children who would be exposed to toxic fumes," said Tseng, whose family moved to Elmhurst from Chicago nearly a decade ago.

Tseng also said traffic congestion would likely increase, posing a safety issue for pedestrians on Crestview Avenue, which lacks sidewalks.

The issue is more than just the gas station, but the long-term vision for Elmhurst, Tseng said.

"Just over a year ago the Pick subdivision in Elmhurst was in opposition to a gas station proposal at the corner of Route 83/St. Charles and now our neighbors who live near the Delta Sonic Car Wash gas station are against its expansion," Tseng said. "Elmhurst citizens are not clamoring for more and bigger gas stations in our community; in fact, it’s quite the opposite."

Most of Mariano's gas stations are on the same site as its grocery stores. The city said this station would be one of the grocery store chain's first off-site stations. The grocery store is down the block at 678 N. York St.

Documents are on the city's website about the gas station plans.

Patch left a message for comment with a representative of the developer of the project. He called back to say he has alerted Mariano's public relations department about the inquiry.

Mariano's is a brand of Roundy's Supermarkets, a subsidiary of the Kroger Co., the nation's second largest retailer.