Downtown Plainfield Gas Station Discussion Met With Skepticism

PLAINFIELD, IL — Village of Plainfield trustees were less than enthusiastic about the concept of a gas station in the expanded downtown Plainfield during a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night. Director of Planning Jonathan Proulx said village staff was seeking input from the board about a potential gas station and convenience store in the expanded downtown core west of the DuPage River.

The hypothetical discussion centered around a potential station on the northwest corner of Van Dyke Road and Lockport Street.

The village's comprehensive plan calls for a future mixed-use (business, office and residential) development that's pedestrian friendly for the area in question.

Trustee Ed O'Rourke was first to speak up, expressing skepticism. "I don't think it's compatible with the long-term vision for downtown," he said, adding that a gas station could bring truck traffic back to the area, noting, "We spent a long time trying to get trucks out of downtown."

Trustee Bill Lamb agreed, saying a gas station/convenience store is not an "appropriate use of the area."

Also on the agenda Monday for discussion were concept plans for several other proposed developments:

• Indian Oaks, a four-unit residential development that would be located at the end of Van Dyke Road between Wallin Woods and Mather Woods
• Park West, a 28-townhome units and 42 courted townhome development proposed for an 11-acre parcel at 24950 W. 127th St., east of the Canadian National tracks
• The Fields of Plainfield, a proposed age-restricted single family detached senior residential development at the southwest corner of Route 126 and Drauden Road.

File photo via Plainfield Patch