Yorkville approves new Casey's gas station by unanimous vote

The Yorkville City Council voted unanimously Tuesday evening to approve the annexation, rezoning and plat for a Casey’s General Store gas station and convenience store at the intersection of Route 34 and McHugh Road.

The vote came despite objections from some residents of the nearby Heartland subdivision, who voiced concerns about additional traffic, noise and light pollution.

The gas station will be located at the southwest corner of Route 34 and McHugh Road, which now is the site of a single-story apartment building and a single-family home.

According to a layout plan distributed to the City Council, the convenience store will be about 4,600 square feet in size, and the gas station will have eight pumps.

Resident Ryan Phillips said “safety is our primary concern.” Phillips said the neighbors were requesting items such as having no entrance onto McHugh Road and the installation of speed bumps on McHugh between Farmstead and Heritage drives.

Tom Lilla, another Heartland resident, said the subdivision residents are not against growth, but he was concerned about truck traffic and safety. He said he didn’t want any exit onto McHugh Road.

As part of the special use zoning approved Tuesday evening, the city will “require the petitioner to post a sign at the (exit) point along McHugh Road that trucks are not allowed to turn right (south) down McHugh Road,” according to a memo from City Senior Planner Jason Engberg.

During a discussion on the gas station proposal, Alderman Joel Frieders said while he appreciated the neighbors’ concerns, “government cannot be the gatekeeper of business.”

Frieders acknowledged that it “would suck to live behind Casey’s.”

However, he said at least one of the concerns was put to rest by having no truck traffic from Casey’s on McHugh.

Frieders also said the light plan shows that the lighting “is going to look dim even if you’re underneath it.”

Frieders said those who invest in the community research the market before they decide to build a business there, adding that he has heard that Yorkville “doesn’t need another gas station.” He’s said he’s heard similar complaints about other new businesses coming to town.

“There are things that we don’t understand that we just kind of assume,” he said. “If someone’s going to invest millions of dollars in your community, I’m not going to say ‘Why?’ I’m going to say, ‘What are you going to do for us?’”

Alderman Seaver Tarulis said he hoped the new gas station would mean lower gas prices in Yorkville.

“I’m hoping this will bring some competition for our gas prices in the city of Yorkville so that I don’t have to drive to Morris or Plano to get gas for substantially less money,” Tarulis said.