Truck stop plans now tabled until August

Plans for a proposed Speedway truck stop on Jefferson Street were delayed Thursday.

The gas station faces opposition from area residents and the Joliet Park District. The station would be located under a flight path for planes going in and out of the district’s Joliet Regional Airport.

Public hearings on the project scheduled before the Zoning Board of Appeals and Plan Commission were tabled at Speedway’s request.

“Speedway gas station has requested that this be tabled because of, I believe, the neighborhood meeting,” said Joliet Director of Planning Michael Schwarz, referring to an informational meeting Speedway had with residents and local businesses last week.

Schwarz said there were issues and questions raised at the meeting that Speedway wants to explore.

The public hearings will be rescheduled for the Aug. 15 meetings of both the zoning board and Plan Commission.

The project does not include a full truck stop with overnight parking for semitrailers but does contain fueling stations for semitrailers and cars.

The station would be located at the northwest corner of the Jefferson Street and Houbolt Road intersection. Part of the site is occupied by the Universalist Unitarian Church, which is in a former bank building.

Park District officials are concerned about the effect of the gas station on the airport.

Airport Manager Jennifer McFarland said the station would be across the street from a grass runway.

“Having a gas station in sight is really going to deter a lot of people from using the grass runway. It’s heavily used,” McFarland said.

Residents are concerned about the effect of more truck traffic in the area.