Northbrook board approves Mariano’s fuel sales permit with signage condition after traffic and safety concerns

The Northbrook Village Board voted unanimously to approve a special-permit amendment allowing a fuel sales facility at the Mariano’s shopping center on Skokie Boulevard, adding a condition that staff approve additional signage at the lot’s exit to discourage left turns.

Residents urged the board to reject the permit, citing potential traffic backups, safety for trail users and nearby schools, and impacts on emergency response. Alexander Bloom, a nearby resident, said he feared illegal left turns and longer backups, telling trustees, “Gasoline is a known carcinogen,” and asking whether the station would operate 24 hours and bring increased crime.

Director Kelly Hamill and planning staff said the proposal would convert excess parking to fueling islands and that the plan was reviewed by a traffic engineer. Director McKeown described the developer’s proposal and the staff review, saying the traffic analysis concluded the new facility is not expected to materially change the intersection’s performance. As staff explained, the study estimated a 5‑to‑6 second increase in cumulative delay at peak times but not a per‑vehicle 5–6 second delay that would suggest a major deterioration.

Trustees pressed for operational details and mitigation. Several trustees said they are uncomfortable with unattended overnight hours but noted newer tanks and monitoring systems reduce environmental risk compared with older facilities. Trustee Israel said newer facilities “are able to handle it with the newer tank walls and newer containment systems” and that remediation of older sites is ongoing. Trustee Cassidy and others weighed the tradeoffs between business viability and neighborhood impacts; Trustee Cassidy suggested the gas station could help sustain the Mariano’s business.

Following public comments and a staff presentation, Trustee (motion maker not specified in the record) moved to approve the ordinance amending the PUD to allow the fuel sales facility; a second was recorded and the board approved the motion by roll call. The approval included the added condition that staff work with the applicant to install enhanced signage at the exit to limit left‑turn movements, with the final signage design subject to staff and, if required, IDOT coordination.

The board’s action was procedural approval of the PUD amendment/special permit; property remediation and permitting remain subject to state and local approvals and any required remediation reports. Trustees and staff said they will monitor operational hours and enforcement needs, and residents were invited to contact Village Hall if they see safety or code concerns.

The plan commission had unanimously recommended approval at the earlier public hearing; this board vote adopts the PUD amendment with the additional signage condition.