No progress was made on the controversial Savannah Green issue at the DeKalb Plan Commission meeting Wednesday night.

Russ Farnum, principle planner for DeKalb, began the meeting by relaying the request of the subdivision’s developer to continue the public hearing until the March 12 meeting, since the developer was unable to make the meeting.

Plan Commission member Herb Rubin expressed his personal aggravation at the postponement of the issue, stating that this was the second time it has been continued. Local resident Jim Schneider was concerned with the Savannah Green issue possibly clouding the upcoming elections.

“We won’t have closure before the April 1 election,” Schneider said.

Marc Strauss, representing First Ranger Petroleum LLC, withdrew this group’s proposal to develop 1013 W. Lincoln Highway into a Road Ranger gas station. Strauss likened his return to speak to the Plan Commission, which already had recommended the project for approval in December, to a child returning to a dentist who does not use anesthesia.

“If we had to do this over again, this is not something we would have done,” Strauss said of the company’s investment in the property.

“My gas station company doesn’t want to do this project anymore,” he continued. “I can’t convince them to do it today.”

Both Farnum and Plan Chair Rich Fassig were surprised by the withdrawal.

“We don’t usually have this problem,” Fassig said, adding that traffic flow was a major concern since gas stations are normally at the corner, and this property is not.

Strauss said he hopes to return at a later date with a proposal that works, but was outwardly disappointed with the outcome of the current project. He urged the commission to examine the problems that resulted in the failure of his company’s proposal and use his situation as an example for future instances. Strauss mentioned the interest of neighbors and the regulations that affect the development of property, especially the area in which this property is located.