Grundy County Board rejects three Saratoga Township solar special-use permits after weeks of public opposition

The Grundy County Board voted this evening to deny three proposed community solar developments in Saratoga Township — USS Delta (25ZBA015), USS Keeneland (25ZBA016) and USS Montgomery (25ZBA017) — after hours of public comment and competing recommendations from county panels.

Residents and pilots testified at length about potential impacts from the projects, citing concerns about prime farmland loss, proximity to homes, damage to county roads during construction, glare risks for pilots using Morris Municipal Airport and long-term decommissioning responsibilities. A number of speakers urged the board to delay decisions until independent environmental, traffic and glare studies were completed.

County land-use staff told the board the projects met the technical checklist required by the Grundy County solar special-use provisions (ordinance 8-2-5-30) and that the developers had submitted required materials including stormwater plans, drain‑tile surveys and decommissioning proposals. Each project had received a unanimous or strong positive recommendation from the Zoning Board of Appeals but carried a negative recommendation from the Land Use Committee, which cited the concentration of multiple projects in a single area and the volume of public opposition.

At the board meeting, USS Delta (25ZBA015) was turned down by a 13–2 vote. The two members recorded as voting yes were County Board Member James Riley and County Board Member White; the board explanation recorded that LaSalle-factor review found a specific concern for potential effect on adjacent property values even though other factors were satisfied. USS Keeneland (25ZBA016) failed on a 12–3 vote after the Zoning Board of Appeals had recommended approval 4–1 with added mitigation conditions; the dissent at ZBA cited local land‑use compatibility. USS Montgomery Solar (25ZBA017), sited farther east on Manuka Road and presented by the developer as more isolated from nearby homes, was also denied by the board (vote 12–3).

Developers and their legal representatives emphasized that projects had been routed through the county’s screening tools and FAA and IDNR (EcoCAT) checks and said they were prepared to add mitigation — including vegetative screening and a glint-and-glare study condition the county added to its checklist. Several developers noted that the projects are sited near existing electric infrastructure and that the state’s assessment method for solar (a statutory per‑megawatt assessed value multiplier) determines property tax treatment.

County staff reiterated that the ordinance requires pre‑permit deliverables — stormwater approval, verified decommissioning bonds, road‑use agreements, proof of ComEd interconnection and an aviation impact assessment — and that none of those items are issued until the conditions are satisfied. Residents pressed for greater clarity on enforcement, bond sufficiency and who would shoulder remediation costs if a developer were to default. County legal counsel explained that state and county decommissioning and surety bonds are required and that, if a company were to fail while the project was operating, the county would be the bond holder and could access proceeds for remediation.

The board’s votes end the current permit requests for the three Saratoga Township sites as presented; developers may choose to reapply or to pursue further coordination with neighbors and county staff. Several board members acknowledged the tension between private property rights and local land‑use controls and said the county’s decisions reflect both statutory limits and the volume of local concern.

Votes at a glance - USS Delta Solar (25ZBA015): Denied, 13–2 (Yes: James Riley; White. No: the remaining board members recorded in roll call.) - USS Keeneland Solar (25ZBA016): Denied, 12–3 (Yes: James Riley; White; Jenkins. No: the remaining board members recorded in roll call.) - USS Montgomery Solar (25ZBA017): Denied, 12–3 (Yes: James Riley; White; Kosenza/other yes votes recorded in roll call.)

The board’s action leaves open other pending county solar matters (extensions, layout modifications and projects outside the Saratoga cluster) for separate votes.

Provenance - Topic introduction excerpt: "Next within your packet this evening is USS Delta Solar 25ZBA015..." (transcript segment starting at 6416.1797). - Topic finish excerpt: "I have 13 to 2, turning down the USS Delta." (transcript segment starting at 8816.795).