Officials Oppose Darien-Area Gas Station

DARIEN, IL – A pair of Downers Grove Township officials have joined the opposition to rezoning houses to pave the way for a new gas station just south of Darien.

In a letter late last month, the township's supervisor, Kim Savage, and its highway commissioner, Tom Chlystek, wrote to the village of Lemont on behalf of residents of the unincorporated Pleasantdale neighborhood, with an estimated more than 300 homes.

They noted the area in question is two miles north of Lemont's village limit.

"The residents in Pleasantdale rely on wells for their water supply and are extremely concerned about the hazards that a gas station/truck stop would pose to their health and safety," the township officials said. "They are also concerned about their potential impact on their neighborhood roads."

A month ago, the Lemont Village Board approved annexing four houses along Lemont Road. They are just south of a Lemont National Bank branch.

Before the annexation, the bank was an island of Lemont jurisdiction in an unincorporated area. If a gas station comes, Lemont would get the sales tax money, but would have no residents of its own near the business.

Over the last year, the Lenny's Gas N Wash chain has bought the houses, which are next to residential neighborhoods.

Lenny's Gas N Wash has not returned a message for comment.