Board approves Goose Lake Township solar project after added screening and Coal City arrangement

The Grundy County Board voted to approve Goose Lake Township Solar 1 (25ZBA018), a ground‑mounted solar project proposed for land along Erickson Road, after the developer agreed to expand vegetative screening and to an arrangement affecting municipal tax receipts.

County staff reported that the site scored 199 on the county’s LAND/soil screening (designated non‑prime for this project) and that EcoCAT and IDNR reviews identified species of interest but no critical habitat that would preclude the development. The Zoning Board of Appeals issued a unanimous positive recommendation (5–0), and the developer offered additional vegetation screening along the northeast, northernmost and western portions of the site to reduce visibility from adjacent homes. The Land Use Committee forwarded a negative recommendation to the board earlier; at the full board meeting the project received approval after discussion and conditions.

The developer also negotiated an agreement with the village of Coal City: while the project will not be annexed, Coal City will receive a share of increased property taxes as if the parcel were annexed, and the village provided a letter of non‑objection. County staff noted that the project will still be required to satisfy all pre‑permit deliverables, including a stormwater permit, ComEd interconnection documentation, a road‑use agreement and verified decommissioning bonds, and that the approval is conditional on those items being completed before any site disturbance.

Developers emphasized local mitigation: a landscape plan included in the packet calls for additional rows of screening trees along the northeast and north perimeters and along the western boundary adjacent to the ComEd easement, where the nearest panels will be roughly 130 feet from Heatherfield subdivision rear lot lines (fence to lot line 100 feet plus setback to first panel). The board’s motion included the same aviation/glare assessment requirement recently added to the county’s solar checklist.

Action - Goose Lake Township Solar 1 (25ZBA018): Approved by the Grundy County Board following ZBA recommendation and agreement on additional vegetative screening and municipal tax arrangement; developer required to complete pre‑permit deliverables before site work.

Provenance - Topic introduction excerpt: "This solar farm is owned by Dominic and Patsy Filletti...located at on Erickson Road" (transcript segment starting at 9815.285). - Topic finish excerpt: "That would be a yes. An 86. 86, right?" (transcript segment starting at 10911.36).