New Lenox Files Legal Objection Against Proposed Gas Station on Parker Road

Village of New Lenox Meeting | January 26, 2026

Article Summary: The New Lenox Village Board voted unanimously to file a legal objection with Will County regarding a proposed gas station and convenience store at Parker Road and U.S. Route 6, citing traffic safety and incompatibility with the comprehensive plan.

QuickRun Rezoning Objection Key Points:

• The Proposal: QuickRun sought to rezone 6.4 acres from agricultural to commercial for a gas station, convenience store, restaurant, and gaming facility.

• The Vote: The Village Board voted unanimously to object to the county petition, which will now require a three-quarters supermajority vote by the Will County Board to pass.

• Primary Concerns: Trustees cited dangerous traffic conditions on Parker Road, lack of direct access to Route 6, reliance on well and septic systems, and conflict with the village’s comprehensive plan for residential use.

NEW LENOX – The New Lenox Village Board on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, voted unanimously to file a formal legal objection against a petition seeking to build a QuickRun gas station and convenience store at the intersection of Parker Road and U.S. Route 6.

Because the property falls under Will County jurisdiction, the developer is seeking rezoning from the county. However, the village’s objection triggers a requirement for a supermajority vote—three-quarters of the County Board—for the project to proceed.

The proposal involves a 6.4-acre site on the southwest side of the intersection. The plan includes a fueling station, convenience store, fast-food restaurant with seating, liquor sales, and video gaming.

Village Planning Manager Robin Ellis explained that the project faces significant hurdles. The site has no direct frontage or access to U.S. Route 6; all traffic would have to enter and exit via Parker Road. Additionally, the proposal relies on a well and septic system, which staff noted has caused environmental issues at similar developments nearby.

“The village’s comprehensive plan recommends single-family residential use,” Ellis said. “Staff is concerned about impacts to the environment should this use go forward.”

The petitioner, represented by legal counsel and owner Parm Sangi, argued that the site is unsuitable for residential development due to high-tension power lines bisecting the property and the presence of a nearby cell tower.

“To call this a gas station is really an oversimplification,” the petitioner’s attorney said, describing the facility as a “highly engineered” convenience center.

Bonnie Willis, a real estate broker representing the seller, argued that residential builders are shying away from the site due to the power lines. She suggested the gas station would be an asset and help alleviate traffic by capturing commuters during off-peak turns.

Mayor Tim Baldermann and the trustees strongly disagreed, focusing on the traffic implications for Parker Road, which is currently one lane in each direction at that location.

“My biggest concern is left turn out of that property onto Parker,” Trustee Amy Gugliuzza said. “Parker is a major thoroughfare… It’s going to make it harder and worse for the residents that live there now.”

Mayor Baldermann noted that without a completed traffic study or a guarantee that the county would require lane widening, the village had to act to protect residents.

“That’s a major change to that residential area,” Baldermann said. “It’s difficult for us in the blind to not file an objection here.”

The board voted to follow the Plan Commission’s recommendation to object to the rezoning and special use permits.