Vernon Hills officials not in favor of Mariano's gas station
A proposal to build a gas station at the Mariano's Fresh Market store in Vernon Hills has been informally rebuffed by village leaders.
Representatives for the grocery chain last week pitched the idea as an incentive for customers in a competitive environment, noting the opening of a Whole Foods nearby.
"It's another amenity for our customers - one-stop shopping. They also get discounts with the fuel," said Shaun Nelson, division fuel manager for Roundy's Supermarkets Inc. Mariano's was part of Roundy's, which was purchased by the Kroger Co. in late 2015.
But concerns about traffic and pedestrian safety in the already congested commercial area at Milwaukee Avenue and Gregg's Parkway, as well as neighborhood opposition, prompted village trustees to inform store representatives they're cool to the idea.
The discussion was informal and no official vote was taken.
Nelson said there are 1,500 fueling stations at Kroger properties across the U.S. including Mariano's in Crystal Lake and Lombard with another opening in spring in Oak Lawn. He said the company has been "ahead of the curve" on environmental and safety practices regarding the stations.
Mariano's proposed a 264-square-foot kiosk, seven fuel dispenser islands and two underground storage tanks on a parking lot to the north of the store. The Vernon Hills store was built in 2011 on about seven acres.
"Obviously, we're not favorable to this concept," Mayor Roger Byrne said after a 35-minute discussion.
Trustee Craig Takaoka said the proposed station was "a little too close" to homes and that everyone who approached him opposed the concept. He lives in the Gregg's Landing subdivision just west of Mariano's.
Trustee Mike Marquardt said traffic is heavy in the neighborhood, which also features Home Depot and Lowe's home improvement stores as well as an Aldi's grocery under construction.
"I don't mind so much a gas station (but) at this location, no. I think the residents are right," he said.
Residents cited potential environmental impacts and said there was no need for another gas station.
"It's certainly going to detract from our home values to have light pollution and a gas station that close to homes," said Gregg's Landing resident Robin Cleek. Cleek, a member of the Hawthorn District 73 school board, said those values contribute much to the village tax base and it would be in "everybody's best interest" to maintain them.
Village officials offered to survey residents in Gregg's Landing regarding the proposal. Mariano's officials said they would take that and other comments under advisement and possibly return.
Jon Hauptman, senior director with Inmar Inc., an analytics firm focused on the food industry, said it's not surprising Mariano's is pursuing a gas station in Vernon Hills.
"This area has as competitive a food marketplace as I see anywhere else in the country," Hauptman said. Besides Mariano's and Whole Foods, which opened last Friday, Aldi's, Jewel and Trader Joe's are within about a mile of each other. The new Woodman's Food Market in Buffalo Grove also comes into play, according to Hauptman.
All the stores will try to engage shoppers more on a one-to-one basis, he said.
"It's a good thing or the shopper, who will benefit," he said.