Buffalo Grove board OKs new Woodman's gas station

Despite concerns from neighbors in the nearby Pekara subdivision, the Buffalo Grove village board this week approved a new unattended gas station for Woodman's Food Market at 1525 Deerfield Parkway.

Deputy Village Manager Christopher Stilling said that when Woodman's was approved in 2016, the grocer had retained the 1.5-acre parcel on the south side of Deerfield Parkway, west of the Shops of Buffalo Grove development.

Woodman's had thought of using the parcel for an additional gas station but did not include it in the final plans to make sure there was room for stormwater detention.

The success of the Woodman's gas station on the north side of Deerfield Parkway encouraged the owners to develop the parcel.

"They feel that the demand in this area will support the additional gas stations," said James Arneson, president of FoxArneson, speaking on behalf of Woodman's.

The gas station will have 10 pumps and operate round-the-clock.

Stilling said the developer responded to concerns about noise by restricting one dispenser 70 feet from the nearest home to the south from operating later than 9 p.m. Lighting will be directed away from the property line.

David Weidenfeld, the only trustee voting against the proposal, had questions about possible flooding. Staff said the plan provided adequate storage to handle stormwater.

Judi Ortiz, who lives on Dogwood Street in Deerfield, told the board she was concerned about gas getting in her drinking water.

"I mean it's right there," she said. "All the water goes into the creek, which goes into Lake County water."

Arneson said the tanks are double-walled with interstitial monitoring, as are the pipes conveying the fuel to the dispensers. "If a leak is detected in the system, it automatically shuts down the entire gas station until an issue can be resolved," he said.

"If the inner tank leaks, it's going to detect there is a leak. There is still an outer tank that is going to contain the spill," Arneson assured her, adding later, "In order for the tank to leak, both tanks would have to end up getting a hole in them."

The station is regulated by the state fire marshal and meets all the requirements for unattended gas stations, he said.