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Residents urge commission to block proposed gas station annexation, cite well and traffic risks
Summary
Multiple Lemont residents told the planning commission they oppose a recent annexation/rezoning for a proposed gas station/truck stop associated with Lenny's Gas & Wash, raising petitions, groundwater contamination risk to private wells, traffic and safety concerns and alleged political influence.
Dozens of residents addressed the commission during audience participation to oppose a proposed annexation and rezoning that would enable a large gas station/truck stop on parcels adjacent to the Pleasantdale neighborhood.
Several speakers said petitions opposing the project have collected thousands of signatures; one resident told the commission there are “3 petitions … garnering 2,830 total signatures” urging officials to stop potential construction. Commenters said the proposed site is adjacent to family homes and that vehicle and truck traffic, illumination and noise would be incompatible with the neighborhood’s residential character.
Residents repeatedly raised concerns about groundwater and private wells. A speaker said she had contacted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and quoted agency guidance that homeowners should “preemptively track their wells for contamination as a not if, but when contamination will occur.” Speakers pointed to risks from routine spills and from leaking underground storage tanks as established pathways for groundwater contamination and asked the village to require well testing before any permitting or to deny rezoning for a gas station use.
Speakers noted traffic‑safety issues at the nearby I‑55/Lemont Road interchange and described narrow local access points used by school buses and children walking in a subdivision without sidewalks. They warned that increased ingress/egress and heavy trucks could create new hazards for schoolchildren and neighbors.
Several residents also raised concerns about the applicant and political influence. One commenter identified the prospective owner as Leonard ("Lenny") McHenry and said the business has made multiple campaign contributions in other jurisdictions; others urged the commission to consider ethical questions around donations and development approvals.
Speakers who addressed the commission included residents who said they represent the Pleasantdale neighborhood, local homeowners, and a DuPage County resident who said county officials had also expressed concern. The commission did not make a decision during audience participation; the comments were entered into the record for future land‑use reviews related to annexation and rezoning.
