Parking dispute delays Speedway expansion in Des Plaines
Approval of plans to expand a Speedway gas station on Des Plaines' south side has been delayed while city officials wait for the gas station and its neighbor to resolve a private dispute over parking.
The city council was set to vote Monday on approvals that would allow the gas station, at 885-911 Touhy Ave., to add 12 parking spaces on the northwest portion of the site and install a driveway that connects with the neighboring property to the east.
But a majority of aldermen, for the second council meeting in a row, decided to delay consideration in hopes Speedway and the owner of the neighboring 999 Touhy building will be able to resolve their issues.
Speedway is planning to demolish its existing convenience store and build a new, larger store, while moving the location of fuel pumps and improving vehicle circulation.
The owners have already demolished an old office building on the east side of the property in anticipation of their expansion plans.
Last July, the council approved Speedway's initial expansion plans, but those plans were revised after a 1976 reciprocal easement agreement came to light that gives the 999 Touhy building access to 21 parking spots at the gas station, and vice versa.
Under Speedway's proposal, parking spaces would be located on the west side of the site - a location deemed too far by the owners of the 999 Touhy building.
Pat Devereaux, the property manager, said building tenants want parking closer to their offices, so they "don't have to walk a quarter-mile down the road to find parking."
Speedway asked to terminate the easement, but Devereaux has asked for $850,000 in exchange. Speedway offered $10,000.
Then Devereaux asked for 20 feet of Speedway's property, but Speedway officials said that would make the project unviable because it would hinder vehicle circulation on the site.
Tom Burney, an attorney for Speedway, said Devereaux "has an exaggerated idea of what this reciprocal easement is worth."
Eighth Ward Alderman Mike Charewicz, chairman of the community development committee, said the city doesn't want to take sides.
"We would all love for both of those buildings to exist," he said. "We want the office to have the parking they need to stay within code, and we'd love to have a larger Speedway at that location."
The council is expected to reconsider Speedway's request for approvals July 6.