'Absolutely crazy': Peoria gas station rejected by city commission. Here's why

A proposed gas station at 3616 N. Sheridan Road was unanimously rejected by the Peoria Planning and Zoning Commission in a 6-0 vote Thursday.

The gas station would have been a SNAK ATTAK branded development, equipped with a car wash, five gas pumps and a convenience store.

Neighbors of the proposal resoundingly told the commission they did not want it in their neighborhood.

Those who opposed the development told the commission that traffic at the intersection of North Sheridan Road and War Memorial Drive was already too busy and felt a gas station would have compounded the problem.

One person who spoke called the proposal "absolutely crazy," and another said traffic at that intersection was already "outrageous."

"We need another gas station, car wash, convenience store like we need another hole in the head," said Ann Winget, who lives nearby. "...We have the cleanest cars in the country probably."

Background: A new gas station is proposed for 'the heart' of Peoria, but neighborhoods are opposed

Residents also worried the store could bring crime, light pollution and trash to their neighborhood.

Eric Heard, the Planning and Zoning commission chair, told the petitioner, Seneca Companies, that Peoria was not "anti-business" and would welcome the company to the city but this site was not the right fit.

The fate of the development is not officially a done deal.

The City Council will review the development at its meeting on Jan. 23. Councilmember Tim Riggenbach said he was confident the council would have the votes to reject the development.

In 2014 a synagogue was demolished at the site. Prior to that in 2011, the city council had rejected a proposal for an affordable living complex to be built at the site.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria commission rejects 'outrageous' gas station proposal