Push begins for development in Winfield

Rezoning the Marathon gas station parcel in Winfield is just the first step “in the right direction” toward eventually developing Roosevelt Road and creating a larger revenue base for the village, a newly elected trustee said Friday.

Tony Reyes said the move eventually will help the village pay for road repairs and that the monumental task has to start somewhere.

“We need to bite off a little every year, with respect to development,” he said. “We need to take little bites. It will set the direction for us to commercialize Roosevelt Road. It’s a small bite but it’s something we should do.”

The gas station, located on the northeast corner of Roosevelt and Winfield roads, is currently zoned residential with a special variance allowing commercial use. Reyes said that has to change.

“(The gas station) should be fairly easy to do because it’s already commercial,” he said.

Reyes said that would open the possibility of making similar zoning changes to the fire station just north of the gas station, as well as an empty lot east of it.

But as sure as Reyes is of being able to effect the change, Trustee Jim Hughes said those talks are already on the table. He said members of the village’s plan commission have discussed the changes.

“We are already moving on that. It’d be nice if it moved faster, but it’s in the plan commission,” he said. “We need to let the plan commission work on that before we come in and make the decision for them.”

Trustee Jay Olson said he wants to look at all options on Roosevelt Road.

“We need to take the steps now to understand what’s (the best use for Roosevelt Road),” he said. “That’s going to involve a detailed look and analysis of retail commercial potential. I support looking at that now.”