Village approves special-use permit for ground-based solar canopy at West Industrial Avenue

The Village of Lake Barrington on Aug. 5 approved Ordinance No. 2025-0-19, granting a special-use permit and zoning variations to permit a ground-based solar canopy system at 28005 West Industrial Avenue. The plan commission/zoning board of appeals had previously granted the special-use permit and variations at its June 12, 2025 meeting, and village staff presented that recommendation to the board. The record lists the petitioner as Technic Development LLC and identifies Robert and Madison Witt and Precision Products Inc. as tenant representatives. The staff presentation said the roof on the existing building could not accommodate a rooftop solar system, making a ground-based canopy the reasonable method to generate on-site renewable energy for that property. The board-recorded conditions included a waiver of the village’s usual requirement to submit a landscaping screening plan; the system must be sited substantially in compliance with the plans approved by the village, and the board noted the system may be visible from certain village streets as part of the approved variation. Business owner Dan Wentz (as identified in the meeting) addressed the board; trustees asked no additional questions during the excerpt. Trustee Shattuck moved approval and Trustee Brander seconded; the motion carried on the record at the meeting. The ordinance authorizes installation and operation of the ground-based solar energy system subject to the plan and conditions approved by the village. The transcript excerpt does not include detailed engineering or decommissioning timelines beyond references to decommissioning provisions in the application materials.