Committee approves 4.95 MW New Lenox solar project with sidewalk and landscaping commitments; developers cite tax and subscription benefits

The Will County Land Use and Development Committee approved a special-use permit for a 4.95-megawatt community solar project on a 34-acre parcel on South Spencer Road in New Lenox Township.

The proposal, filed as ZC24109 under owner Anita D. Batson Revocable Trust and developed by ECA Solar, would place approximately 9,963 solar panels on two arrays separated by utility easements. The planning and zoning record shows the project was designed to avoid crossing an existing gas and water easement and to keep arrays out of those utility corridors. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval with five conditions; committee members approved the permit at the March meeting.

Why it matters: The developer told the committee the project could serve roughly 990 ComEd customers, generate tax revenue for local governments, and create temporary construction jobs. Committee members pressed the developer on landscaping, sidewalk requests from New Lenox, drain-tile protections and measures to prevent glare and noise impacts.

Developer presentation and studies Kyle Barry, an attorney for the applicant, and Colin Walker of ECA Solar walked committee members through the site’s constraints and outreach history. "We do have about 350 feet of road frontage on South Spencer Road," Walker said, noting a railroad and village water infrastructure bound the site and that easements bisect the parcel and create two separate arrays.

Engineer Ben Dykema summarized technical studies: the project team completed a GLARE study that found no expected glare hours at identified receptors and a sound study concluding equipment noise would be well below applicable limits. Dykema said the team has prepared a drain-tile survey and intends to follow Agricultural Impact Mitigation Agreement (AMA) requirements and Will County standards to avoid adverse impacts to field drainage. He also said the team will submit a conservation plan to Will County Soil and Water and expects a required site visit during review.

Landscaping, fencing and sidewalk Dykema and Walker said the project will include roadside landscaping that follows New Lenox ordinances: evergreen screening (arborvitae), understory trees and shrubs, and a PVC fence along the South Spencer frontage at the village’s request. The interior perimeter is planned as agricultural fence where appropriate. For the pollinator areas inside the arrays, the applicant requested variances to reduce mowings and to allow maximum plant heights up to 36 inches in selected locations; the applicant said turf and roadside landscaping will still meet county standards (mowing five times May–October and kept under the specified height).

The village of New Lenox requested seven conditions; the Planning and Zoning Commission accepted four staff-recommended conditions and added one of the village items — construction of a sidewalk along the project’s frontage. The developer told the committee it would install a sidewalk along its frontage but cannot extend it beyond its parcel to the existing sidewalk terminus because that would require property it does not own.

Economic and property-value material The applicant provided an analysis from Cohn Reznick indicating no demonstrated negative effect on neighboring property values in comparable cases, and estimated tax receipts of roughly $875,000 over 35 years and temporary construction employment numbers. The developer also said the project would supply enough capacity to be subscribed by about 990 homes.

Committee action The committee voted to approve the special-use permit with five conditions; the roll call showed unanimous support among members present. Staff will require the applicant to complete required conservation, interconnection and drain-tile protections prior to issuance of construction permits.

Ending The project proceeds to permitting subject to the five conditions adopted by committee. Staff and the developer will continue required coordination with New Lenox, Will County Soil and Water, and ComEd on final interconnection and landscaping plans.