Speedway withdraws plan for new Joliet location

Plans for a new Speedway gas station along Jefferson Street in Joliet came to a halt, officials said.

“The petitioner withdrew it,” said Kendall Jackson, community development director for the city of Joliet.

At a recent meeting of the Joliet Zoning Board of Appeals, the status of the petitioner’s request was reviewed.

The gas station and a future unidentified development, if approved, would have set up shop at 3401 and 3405 W. Jefferson St., right across from the runway of the Joliet Regional Airport.

Currently, the two parcels are home to a vacant church and some undeveloped land.

A number of residents expressed concerns for the idea of Speedway operating a new gas station at a public meeting last month. The issues raised by the public included, among other things, traffic, safety and the fear of declining property values.

Members of the Joliet Plan Commission voted 9-0 to reject the petitioner’s request. The panel’s action is not binding and is serving only as a recommendation to the Joliet City Council.

Speedway was seeking approval for several items, including zoning reclassifications, the vacation of utility easements and a preliminary plat of subdivision.

The applicant, Christian Kalischefski, has said the city stood to gain $190,000 annually in sales tax, plus $7.5 million in initial investment to the project area.

A representative for Speedway has since reached out to city staff to withdraw the petition for the gas station.

The Joliet City Council will not review the petition as it’s been withdrawn.

When asked if Speedway is still in talks with the city in regards to setting up shop at another location, Jackson said he does not have any knowledge of it.