Kane County OKs special-use permit for 2.7 MW solar array in Plato Township

The Kane County Board voted Sept. 9 to approve a special-use permit for a commercial solar energy facility proposed in Plato Township, authorizing a fenced photovoltaic installation sited north of the railroad tracks and approximately three-quarters of a mile west of Nestler Road.

The petitioner, Anamite Solar LLC, represented by project developer Nadeem Damien, described the project as roughly 2.7 megawatts of capacity tied to the distribution line on Nestler Road. County planning staff and board members discussed the site plan, fencing and visual screening. The petitioner and staff confirmed that the development area would be set back from neighboring properties and that the county's standard continuous evergreen buffer requirement would be exceeded: the developer agreed to plant evergreens at 5 feet in height and 15 feet on center along the westerly property line to screen residences roughly 900 feet away.

County staff noted that the immediately adjacent parcel to the east has already been approved for a solar project (not yet constructed); the two projects will interconnect to the same distribution line but are unaffiliated. The Zoning Board of Appeals recommended approval with standard stipulations; the Development Committee recommended approval with staff-recommended conditions. Board member David Williams moved the special-use permit; the motion passed on roll call.

Why it matters: The vote continues a trend of distributed solar proposals in rural parts of the county and raises questions about screening, agricultural land use and utility interconnection capacity. The board approved the permit with conditions addressing screening and spacing; no county subsidy or tax-abatement was enacted as part of the permit.

Development and planning staff will monitor installation and compliance with the planting and setback stipulations in the county-approved site plan.