Crest Hill plan commission recommends approval of Hendrickson’s 4‑acre solar array, grants gravel access variation

The Crest Hill Plan Commission voted unanimously Thursday to recommend that the City Council approve a special‑use permit and related zoning variations for Hendrickson USA LLC’s proposed solar array on about four acres at 501 Cayton Farm Road.

The project, presented to the commission as case SUDash25Dash2Dash4Dash1, would install nearly 2,000 solar modules expected to produce about 1,500,000 kilowatt‑hours annually (applicants described the system capacity at about 1.8 megawatts). The commission’s recommendation carries 10 staff conditions and — if the council follows the commission’s vote — will be considered by the City Council at its May 12 work session.

Community and Economic Development Director Pat Ainsworth presented the staff report and told commissioners the application included a special use for a utility facility and one variation from the City Code for driveway material and width. Ainsworth said staff and the city engineer worked with the applicant and the Lockport Fire Protection District to design an emergency‑vehicle…