Will County committee approves Nexamp solar special use in New Lenox with conditions; adds access and fencing requirements
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Summary
The committee approved a special-use permit for a Nexamp commercial solar project on South Spencer Road (special-use area ~63 acres; two arrays ~12 and ~13 acres). Members added conditions asked for by New Lenox including a paved apron at the access drive and agricultural-style fencing; underground cabling is required except for ComEd posts.
Will County’s Land Use and Development Committee voted to approve a special-use permit for a Nexamp commercial solar facility on South Spencer Road in New Lenox, forwarding the case to the full board with additional conditions requested by New Lenox officials.
Staff said the special-use area covers roughly 62–63 acres of a larger 110‑acre parcel; Nexamp’s presentation described two separate arrays separated by a stream, with the western array about 12 acres and the eastern about 13 acres. Planning staff recommended approval with three conditions; the planning and zoning commission recommended approval 6–0.
Jack Curry, Nexamp’s director of business development, said the site is constrained by pipelines, transmission lines and a stream, making it more suitable for solar than other uses. Nexamp committed to preserve the northern wooded area referenced in neighbor letters and said it will coordinate with Soil & Water and the village on flood‑zone and drainage work. The company also discussed module recycling and decommissioning plans.
Committee members asked staff to add conditions requested by the village of New Lenox, including: constructing a concrete or asphalt access apron at Spencer Road where the access drive meets the right‑of‑way, using agricultural-style (fixed notch/farm) fencing rather than chain link, and additional landscaping along the western property line. The committee approved amendments to add the apron and fencing conditions; members also confirmed that internal cabling will be underground except for ComEd poles.
Nexamp said it will work with the tenant farmer on interim cover crops and coordinate scheduling and reimbursement for any geotechnical work that impacts crops. Nexamp also stated it will bury most electrical wiring and committed to decommissioning and module recycling plans.
The committee approved the special-use permit by roll call and congratulated the applicant; the item will proceed to the county board for final action.
