Gas Station Plan Fuels Lawsuit Against Village of Glen Ellyn, Developers

GLEN ELLYN — After a lengthy bout of protests and debates, Glen Ellyn residents have filed a lawsuit against the Village of Glen Ellyn and developers who plan to build a gas station and convenience store. The gas station was approved for construction at Main Street and St. Charles Road.

The lawsuit was filed in DuPage County Court by Attorney Daniel Shapiro, who represents Project Glen Ellyn, Inc., according to Daily Herald. Project Glen Ellyn Inc. is a non-profit that serves to defend the economic health of residents in the city and to promote “responsible development.”

In April, the Glen Ellyn Village Board gave the approval for True North LLC to begin construction of the convenience store and gas station, making some compromises for residents. The village agreed to limit the hours of the convenience store, which had initially proposed 24-hour service. Many residents protested that this was not enough.

The complaint seeks to have the village reverse the special-use permit that was granted to True North LLC for construction of the proposed gas station. It asserts that the permit is in violation of Glen Ellyn’s zoning ordinances and that the due process rights of residents were violated during the approval. My Suburban Life reports that the complaint’s ultimate goal is a “preliminary and permanent injunction” that will prevent True North LLC from starting construction and prevent Glen Ellyn from issuing building permits for the gas station.

>>Related: Glen Ellyn Gas Station Approved Despite Heated Protests from Villagers

On April 25, village trustees approved the plan along with changes to the village code to permit up to 12 vehicles to park at the proposed gas station, according to My Suburban Life. A special-use permit was signed on May 13 that included a number of village code variations to accommodate construction.

The complaint echoes the concerns of many other residents who oppose the gas station, which is set for construction on a lot that has housed three other gas stations in the past. Patch user moonma said, “They keep tearing down small stations and building huge gas stations in their place. So when will the Gas Station Bubble blow?”

This lawsuit is hoping to put at a significant hole in that bubble.

The Village of Glen Ellyn and True North LLC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

>>Image via GoogleMaps of 825 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn, site of proposed gas station