Gas Station Plan Upsets Clarendon Hills Residents

CLARENDON HILLS, IL — A developer is planning a 24-hour gas station and Dunkin' Donuts in the southwestern part of Clarendon Hills. Neighbors are opposed.

The developer, Hinsdale-based KrohVan RE Solutions, held a community meeting to unveil its plans Friday night at a local church.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, residents criticized the project for about an hour. The developer has not turned in an application for a village permit.

In an interview, Christopher Krohe of KrohVan said it was still early in the process and that he would keep the community updated. He said he had no other comment at this point.

The development is planned for the southwest corner of Western Avenue and 55th Street, where the old Tracy's Tavern building stands. Residents said they were told the convenience store would include liquor sales.

The 24-hour gas station and Dunkin' Donuts are planned for the southwest corner of Western Avenue and 55th Street, where the old Tracy's Tavern building stands. (Google Maps)

Donald "Taps" Gallagher is among the neighbors opposed. He said more than 100 people attended the Friday night meeting at the Church of the Holy Nativity in Clarendon Hills.

"Everybody was against what they are doing," Gallagher said in an interview. "It would be a complete horror show to have a 24-hour anything there. They would have to put up lights. It would be a traffic disaster, with the way it is with carjackings and robberies. You are going to attract that type of crowd when you have a 24-hour gas station that sells alcohol."

Gallagher, an attorney and a former Village Board member, said the developer is promoting the fact that it would include plug-in chargers for electric cars.

"Someone with a Tesla living in a million dollar-plus house isn't going to come to a gas station to charge their car," said Gallagher, who lives on Harris Avenue. "It's just not a good use of the property. We are dead set against it. We are spearheading a drive against it. It would a great plan if it were on Ogden Avenue or on a main road somewhere, not in a residential area."

Another opponent, Scott Wilson, said the station would expose the area to more crime. He called the plan for the gas station short-sighted.

"I don't know how our small police force will handle that. They have a hard time keeping up with cars being broken into in the neighborhood, let alone with a 24-hour gas station," said Wilson, who lives near Western Avenue and 56th Street. "We have a great police force. We are known for our low crime."

He added, "I know the village is looking for money, but dropping a gas station in a residential neighborhood is not the way to go about it."

Jonathan Mendel, the village's community development director, confirmed the village is in contact with the developer, but no application has been turned in.

After KrohVan submits an application, it would go before the village's zoning board, which would hold a public hearing. Once the board makes a recommendation, the matter would be sent to the Village Board for a vote.