Grundy County land use panel gives negative recommendation for 2 MW Brisbane Solar project

The Grundy County Land Use Committee on Aug. 27 voted to forward a negative recommendation to the County Board on a special-use request for a 2-megawatt solar array proposed on a portion of the Betty Kinsella Farm Trust parcel near the Brisbane Road/I‑80 interchange.

The recommendation follows a unanimous negative finding by the Zoning Board of Appeals and objections from the City of Morris, state legislators and several local economic-development organizations, which said the interchange area was planned and publicly funded for industrial and commercial growth rather than solar fields.

Committee staff described the application as case 25ZBA7, submitted by Brisbane Solar LLC and represented at the meeting by Hannah Udishus of Nexamp. The proposed array would occupy about 13.09 acres of a 28.3-acre parcel, be enclosed by 8-foot security fencing, use low-profile, tracking panels with underground cabling where possible, and include a native pollinator seed mix and a decommissioning bond. The applicant reported a 20-year lease with a five-year option and estimated first-year aggregate taxes for the fenced portion at about $9,637 and a 40-year total tax estimate of roughly $255,639 for that fenced area.

Why it mattered: municipal and regional commenters said the property sits within the area targeted by more than $25 million in public investment to develop highway-oriented industrial and commercial uses, and that placing a solar farm at the interchange conflicts with long-term regional planning and the intended economic return of that infrastructure. The city of Morris asked the county to deny the permit, citing comparisons to potential tax revenue from other industrial uses and calling a 40-year lease effectively long-term rather than temporary.

Proponents’ case: Hannah Udishus, Nexamp business development manager, said the project is a lawful use under the Grundy County zoning ordinance and compliant with Illinois’ statewide siting law for solar. Udishus said the parcel has not attracted other commercial development since the interchange was completed in 2012, that utilities do not currently extend north of Brisbane Road to serve the property, and that the project would provide rental income to the farm family while preserving the remainder of the parcel for potential future development.

Opposition and deliberations: The meeting packet included written objections from the City of Morris, Senator Sue Resin, Senator Chris Balcoma, the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce and the GEDC. Those filings charactered the interchange’s purpose as promoting job-creating, tax-generating uses and argued solar at this location would undermine that investment. County staff noted the Zoning Board of Appeals identified concerns with three of the LaSalle factors (compatibility with existing use and zoning; relative gain to the public versus hardship to the applicant; and consistency with the comprehensive plan) and issued a 4–0 negative recommendation at its June hearing.

Committee action: A motion to approve the special-use permit was moved and seconded during the Land Use Committee meeting; after discussion the committee recorded a roll-call vote the chair described as a four-to-two vote against the proposal. The committee’s negative recommendation will be transmitted to the full County Board for final action.

What the record shows: The applicant provided technical submittals including an interconnection agreement, environmental reviews (IEMA, IDNR, FEMA and U.S. Fish & Wildlife submissions) and a preliminary decommissioning estimate. Staff also noted a municipal outreach attempt with the City of Morris that did not result in annexation or an agreement.

Next steps: The committee’s negative recommendation will be considered by the Grundy County Board at its next meeting; the applicant and objectors may appear or submit materials to the board before it votes.