Council OKs Kwik Trip at Old City Hall site after brief hearing

The Crest Hill City Council voted to approve an ordinance authorizing the final plat of subdivision and zoning variations for a Kwik Trip gas station at 1610 Plainfield Road, the former Old City Hall site.

The development request, presented by community development staff and a Kwik Trip representative, included increased driveway widths and traffic-calming measures. Dan Ritter, the city’s economic and community development director (speaker 17), described staff reviews and mitigation steps; Kwik Trip’s representative, Ali, said demolition and utility disconnects could take roughly six to 12 weeks once permits and disconnect letters are received.

"Depending on really the disconnect schedule, we'll have to get disconnects involved and we'll have to do disconnects. Usually, they take between 6 to 12 weeks," the Kwik Trip representative said.

Chair (speaker 1) asked whether any members of the public wished to speak; no one approached the podium. Councilors debated location suitability: one member said a gas station next to retirement areas "doesn't belong right next to retirement areas," while others described the redevelopment as long overdue and a benefit to the corridor.

After discussion, Alderman Kubal moved and Alderman Albert seconded the motion to approve the ordinance. The roll call produced majority support and the motion carried; the ordinance was recorded as No. 2052.

The mayor said the council expects the demolition and construction to begin as soon as permits and disconnections are complete and described the project as a "tremendous asset" for residents’ access to fuel and convenience items.

The council directed staff to coordinate the next steps with the developer and applicable agencies; no further public hearings were requested on the item.