Lake Barrington Speedway debate inspires residents to seek political office
The plan to build a Speedway gas station in Lake Barrington inspired passionate debate among residents before its approval by the village board last month.
It also helped to inspire a few residents to seek political office.
Three of the four new candidates running for a seat on the Lake Barrington board of trustees said Monday they would not have voted for the controversial Speedway gas station plan. They are part of a field of six candidates, including incumbent Trustees Andrew Burke and John Schaller, seeking three open seats in the April 7 election.
Agnes M. Tomasian, a Lake Barrington resident of 11 years, organized a protest of the Speedway with the resident group STOP Speedway in Lake Barrington. She said she had never taken a stand politically before the Speedway plan came up.
"The whole Speedway thing really got people on edge," said Tomasian, who lives in the Pheasant Ridge subdivision near the future gas station site. "A lot of residents feel they weren't being heard."
Lou Incandela, who has worked as a Cook County probation officer and a realtor for 28 years, said he is not in favor of recent commercial projects in the village like the Speedway and the Lake Barrington Field House off Pepper Road. He lives in the Savannah subdivision, near the Pepper Road commercial areas, and believes board members might not have voted for the large commercial projects if their houses were nearby.
Christopher Pearson, who works as the COO of Sunnyside Corporation, a Wheeling packaging company, spoke out against the Speedway development several times during public meetings in the fall. He said he would reverse the decision if he could.
"If there's an opportunity to do that once we're on the board, I would absolutely pursue that," Pearson said. "But I'm not sure there will be (an opportunity)."
Lake Barrington Village Administrator Christopher Martin said Monday that Speedway plans to begin construction on the gas station at Route 14 and Kelsey Road in the spring. Newly-elected board members won't be sworn in until the first meeting in May, which means it is likely too late for new candidates to reverse the plan's course.
The other newcomer running for a spot on the board, James C. Thompson, said he does not have an opinion on the Speedway gas station plan.
"My position on it is it is in the past," said Thompson, who is semiretired and serves on the Council of Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores. "Now we look forward to the future to grow the village for those who live here."
Thompson said he decided to run after speaking with outgoing Trustee David Raclaw, who is not seeking a third four-year term.
Schaller voted in favor of the Speedway proposal. Burke recused himself from the discussion and vote, citing professional relationships in the convenience store industry.