Business owner alters plans for proposed Fairview Heights development. Here’s what changed
A local business owner and developer of a proposed gas station/convenience store/car wash/quick serve restaurant has made changes to original plans, eliminating all gas pumps and adding a casual dining restaurant.
Nick Patel of Makan LLC, submitted the new plans to the city, stated Dallas Alley, land use and development director for the city. The changes are a result of numerous concerns expressed by residents living near the development site.
The Fairview Heights City Council met Tuesday and briefly continued an ongoing discussion about the proposed development. Because these changes are significant, the council voted 10-0 to send the item back to the planning commission for review.
The planning commission will meet Tuesday, Feb. 11. The item will then go before the community committee Wednesday, Feb. 19.
The site, located at the southwest corner of Old Collinsville Road and Milburn School Road, is owned by Patel and already zoned for B-3 community business use. Patel’s application for a special use permit to allow the development was submitted in December. The original site plan included an 11,500-square-foot convenience store, 10 fueling islands for 20 gas pumps, a car wash with six vacuum stations and an electric vehicle charging station.
Residents shared their concerns at the Jan. 14 planning commission and Jan. 22 community committee meetings. These concerns centered heavily on potential effects living near a gas station could have on residents’ health. Other issues addressed included other environmental factors such as noise and lights, and traffic congestion at the intersection.
After the Jan. 14 meeting, adjustments were made to the original plans, reducing the number of fueling islands from 10 to eight, and adjusting proposed hours of operation for the convenience store and car wash. Residents were still opposed.
While the complete omission of the fuel service could alleviate one of the residents’ main concerns, Ward II Alderman Ryan Vickers brought up the concerns about increased traffic that would result from the development, with or without fuel services.
Mayor Mark Kupsky stated that this question could be addressed at the next planning commission meeting. The commission would also be able to take a previous change in operating hours into consideration.
On Monday, Kupsky posted the council’s intent on the Fairview Heights, IL - Mayor Facebook page to send Proposed Resolution 11-’25 back to the planning commission.
“The City knows that there are many residents that have an interest in this project; therefore, we wanted you to be aware that the only vote the City Council will take on Tuesday will be to forward this proposal back to the planning commission for review,” stated the post.
