The Village Board of Oak Park voted to deny a three-part application from Kwik Trip Corporation to redevelop the former H.D. Moore site at Harlem and Garfield as a Kwik Trip fuel plaza and convenience store. The board’s votes concurred with the Plan Commission’s 7–0 recommendation to deny the alley vacation, the plat of subdivision and the special-use permit.

Kwik Trip’s proposals called for demolition of existing structures, construction of a convenience store of approximately 6,600 square feet with fueling positions and related site work. The company submitted a traffic study and proposed several mitigations, and on Friday provided a letter offering additional concessions including EV chargers, enhanced landscaping along Maple Avenue, restricted left-turn access from Lexington and a commitment to explore on-site solar.

Neighbors, Plan Commission members and village staff raised a range of concerns during public hearings and at Tuesday’s board meeting, including traffic impacts at a busy Harlem–Garfield intersection, safety for pedestrians and nearby Maple Park, light and noise impacts for adjacent homes, and conflicts with Oak Park’s climate and land-use goals. Residents organized petitions (more than 1,200 signatures) and submitted written comments and in-person testimony opposing the plan; speakers described fears of increased traffic on narrow neighborhood streets and more vehicle trips through the intersection.

Kwik Trip representatives stressed the company’s experience and said the site — long vacant and blighted — would be cleaned up and activated, and noted the developer’s traffic study and IDOT review. The firm also emphasized proposed additions of EV chargers and landscaping.

Planning staff reported the property sits in a general commercial (GC) district but that the Plan Commission found approval would be inconsistent with the spirit of the zoning ordinance and the adopted Envision Oak Park comprehensive plan. After discussion, the board took three separate roll-call votes to concur with the Plan Commission’s recommendation to deny each application. Clerk Waters recorded the roll calls; trustees voting to deny were Levin Jacobson, Enya, Eder, Straw, Taglia, Wesley and President Vicki Skamman.

Trustees and staff said the site remains eligible for redevelopment but urged proposals aligned with the village’s long-term planning goals — in particular, denser mixed-use housing and green infrastructure that would support Oak Park’s climate goals. Staff indicated the village will continue outreach to identify redevelopment options consistent with Envision Oak Park and Climate Ready Oak Park.