By Andrea Earnest | Enterprise Staff
news@enterprisepublications.com
@PlainfieldNews
The Plainfield Village Board approved an annexation agreement for a proposed Lenny’s Gas N’ Wash at the southwest corner of Route 126 and Drauden Road.
Trustee Ed O’Rourke recused himself from the May 2 vote, citing a conflict of interest.
Village Planner Jonathan Proulx said the applicant is requesting approval of annexation into the village and also would like to subdivide a 10-acre parcel along Route 126 to create a 3-acre lot for the gas station and one acre for storm retention.
The applicant is also requesting to rezone the property from R-1 to B-3. The developer would also like a special use permit for drive-thru operations.
Proulx said construction would include a 4,800-square-foot convenience store, fuel islands facing toward Route 126 and a car wash.
The property owner has also committed to extending water and sanitary sewer utilities to the site.
Proulx said this is a sizeable off-site utility expansion, and that this extension would help commercial development at this location for the future.
The village would agree to a rebate sales tax agreement to refund the property owner over time.
The agreement would be for up to a seven year period and have stepped increments of a percent back to the property owner.
Proulx said staff feels the sales tax request is appropriate as per the village’s incentive program.
“We believe the project is not viable without this reimbursement for the sizeable magnitude of the extension of off-site utilities costs,” he added.
Trustee Brian Wojowski asked if there was any interest paid back to the owner, or if just the raw cost would be paid back.
Proulx said the repayment would be the certified construction cost only.
The site plan for this property would go in front of the board for approval at the May 16 meeting.