Huntley plan commission approves General RV fueling pad and parking expansion with conditions

The Village of Huntley Plan Commission on Feb. 26 approved a petition from General RV Center to complete a long-delayed parking expansion at 14000 Automall Drive and to install an accessory fueling station for company vehicles, subject to conditions set by staff and the commission.

Assistant Director of Development Services Scott Bernacki outlined the proposal as a text amendment to allow a fuel dispenser as an accessory special use in the C‑2 Regional Retail district, a Special Use Permit for the dispenser, an amendment to General RV’s existing recreational vehicle sales/service special use, and site plan review. The site plan proposes 3.07 acres of additional impervious pavement with striping for 129 recreational vehicles and existing stormwater basins that staff said accommodate the expanded parking.

Michael Ruth, the petitioner’s representative, told the commission the project should help operations. “The team is excited to get the project moving,” Ruth said, adding the extra space and the accessory fuel dispenser are needed for on‑site vehicle servicing.

Staff described the fueling pad as a 20‑by‑40‑foot concrete pad supporting a 1,000‑gallon unleaded tank, a 1,000‑gallon diesel tank, a 500‑gallon off‑road dyed diesel tank and a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) cabinet; the existing propane tank and fill station will be relocated adjacent to the new tanks. Bernacki said dispensers will be used only for General RV vehicles and operated exclusively by General RV employees, and that bollards and siting away from detention basins were proposed to reduce spill and vehicle‑impact risks.

Bernacki also summarized staff’s recommended conditions, which the commission incorporated into its approval: full compliance with submitted plans and applicable Village codes; satisfaction of all Huntley Fire Protection District requirements; additional landscape screening in the island adjacent to the fueling station to shield tanks from the neighboring Huntley Commercial Center; a requirement that the fuel dispenser remain for the sole accessory use of General RV and not be accessible to the general public; a spill containment kit on site; signs at storm drains reading “No dumping, drains to creek;” and an explicit note that no building plans, construction permits, sign permits or Certificates of Occupancy are approved as part of this submittal.

Commissioners asked several clarifying questions before the vote. Commissioner Don Walz raised concern that patrons might attempt to access the site through a gated emergency access to Commerce Court; staff responded that Commerce Court is a private driveway and the emergency access will be gated and not available for public use. Commissioner Dennis O’Leary questioned an engineering note about replacing an existing inlet with a catch basin to prevent contamination; staff said the Village Engineering Department had approved the engineering approach. Commissioner Ron Hahn noted that many modern tanks are double‑ or triple‑walled and said he was comfortable with the engineering and fire conditions of approval. The vice chair pressed the petitioner about DEF storage and whether it would be in a cabinet; Mr. Ruth could not confirm during discussion, and the vice chair noted the plans show a cabinet and that a cabinet was preferred to protect the DEF from weathering.

Commissioner Ron Hahn moved to approve Petition No. 24‑02.03 and Commissioner Terra DeBaltz seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 6–0. The approval advances the zoning text amendment and special‑use actions necessary for the site work, but does not authorize building or construction permits; the petitioner must meet all Village requirements and Huntley Fire Protection District conditions before construction and operation.

The Plan Commission received a brief staff update on other developments and then adjourned at 7:26 p.m.