Thornton's Gas Station Concept Plan Approved In Lockport

LOCKPORT, IL — Plans for a Thornton's gas station will move forward after the Lockport City Council approved a concept plan for the business at its Wednesday meeting. The gas station is proposed at 15925 W. 159th St., on the southeast corner of Gougar Road and 159th Street.

The property is zoned C-3, highway commercial, and is 3.4 acres, and would include a 36,285-square-foot portion of the neighboring property to the south, council documents state.

The concept plans call for a 5,500-square-foot commercial building, as well as a separate truck drive, passenger vehicle fuel pumps, separate truck fuel pumps, canopies, septic field and detention basin.

Originally, the developer had submitted preliminary plans, but due to issues with turn lanes into the site, the developer would have to purchase a portion of the property to the south.

"The applicant has changed the request from preliminary plan review to concept plan review for the purpose of receiving assurance from the city for the development prior to purchasing the additional land," council documents state.

The portion of land to the south would require annexation and rezoning to C-3.

Alderman Mark Lobes and alderwoman Christina Bergbower voted against the concept plan.

"Respectfully, because I work on the green committee, I will be voting against this," Lobes said.

The city council approved the concept plan in a 6-2 vote.