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Public hearing set for controversial Thorntons plan in Mundelein

Mundelein's planning and zoning commission meets Wednesday night to discuss a controversial plan to build a gas station at a highly traveled intersection on the village's north side.

The Thorntons station and a convenience store are proposed for the northeast corner of routes 45 and 176.

The Original Omega Restaurant and a vacant industrial building stand on the land being eyed for the project. They're separate parcels but would be combined if the project moves forward.

The buildings would be razed.

The gas station could have 10 pumps, officials said. The convenience store would be about 5,500 square feet.

Nearby residents and others have objected to the plan, voicing concerns about traffic, light at night, the potential impact on the environment and other issues.

Trustee and mayoral candidate Robin Meier has spoken against it, too. All of the other trustees - including fellow mayoral candidate Dawn Abernathy - encouraged moving the plan forward when it was unveiled in August 2020.

Abernathy has since said she opposes the plan.

Meier and Abernathy are joined by Thomas Ouimet and incumbent Steve Lentz in the mayor's race, which is part of the April 6 local election.

A Northbrook company called GMX Real Estate Group is behind the Thorntons proposal. The group has said it wants to break ground this summer and open the station next year.

The developers have requested variations from village building codes for the convenience store, parking, light poles, the brightness of lights and a fence, documents indicate.

The planning commission advises the village board on zoning matters. Wednesday's meeting is set for 7 p.m., and it will include a public hearing on the plan. In-person attendance will be limited because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to attending in person, you can participate via gotomeet.me/MundeleinCommissions-Committees/pzc. Or, you can call (669) 224-3412 and enter the access code 907-985-093.

Those who can't attend but want to submit a question or comment to be read into the record, are asked to email their full name and question or comment to planning@mundelein.org. Put "Public Commentary PZC-04-2021" in the subject line of the email.

The village board is expected to debate the issue and rule on the requested zoning variances in April.

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