Route 60 Mobil Station May Be Demolished to Make Way for Bucky's

Vernon Hills trustees voted unanimously Wednesday night to direct staff to draft an ordinance that would allow the demolition of the existing Mobil station at 294 E. Townline Road and the construction of a new Bucky's Express gas station.

Assistant Village Manager John Kalmar said the request is to construct a new gas station, car wash and convenience store with food, beverages and alcohol at the site, located across from Westfield Hawthorn Mall at Ring Road and Route 60. The station would be open 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Kalmar said the planning and zoning commission "reviewed this matter and felt the proposal was appropriate for the location." The commission's vote was 5-1 to approve the proposal.

Walter J. Hainsfurther, president of Des Plaines-based architectural firm Kurtz Associates, said there will be eight gas pump islands on the site, versus the existing four islands. The 1.45-acre site would consist of a 4,800-square-foot convenience store and a car wash of about 2,300 square feet.

"We will use the whole lot more efficiently," said Hainsfurther.

David Brown, director of public works, pointed out that the location is "a very tight site with what they're trying to accomplish." He said there could be times where there is congestion internally due to people waiting for gas pumps.

"I think it's very congested," added Trustee Barbara Williams.

Hainsfurther said that congestion will be mitigated by the number of pumps — 16 — on the site.

"It's not in our best interest for the lot to be overly congested because we're going to have potential customers go someplace else," he said, noting that if people see the station looks too busy, they'll just drive down the road to another station.

Richard McMahon, who works in real estate development for Buchanan Energy, said the company has built Bucky's locations on similarly-sized lots "and it works."

"It's all a function of the configuration of the lot," said McMahon.

Williams asked if, when the proposal returns to the village board for ordinance approval, the petitioners can bring along an exterior photo of a Bucky's gas station.