No need to vote on gun store site

Wood Dale trustees escaped a contentious vote Thursday over a request to allow the opening of a gun shop less than a half-mile from a junior high school.

Mayor Ken Johnson read a brief statement from Marshall Subach, an attorney for Gun World, which informed village officials of the store's intention to pull out of a plan to locate the store at 660 Pond Ave.

The owners had sought permission to operate a retail gun shop, shooting range and gunsmith store less than a half-mile from Wood Dale Junior High School, located at 655 N. Wood Dale Road.

Trustees had approved the initial request on April 10, despite objections by some residents that the store would be located too close to the school.

The proposed area is located in an area zoned for adult businesses that could include massage parlors and adult book stores. But the gun shop, which had a contract to purchase the property on Pond Avenue, required special voting approval.

The city council was expected to vote on final approval for the store Thursday before receiving notification from Gun World earlier that day.

"I'm happy they're not going forward," said Alderman Gene Wesley, who voted against the proposal on April 10.

It's not clear whether Gun World will seek another location within Wood Dale. The store, which had operated in Bensenville for roughly 30 years, recently closed its doors to make way for the O'Hare International Airport expansion.

Wood Dale city attorney Patrick Bond said the city hasn't been informed of the store's future plans.

"They may find another site," Bond said, "but I'm not sure it's going to be in Wood Dale."