McHenry County board amends conditions, approves Arena Renewables’ 2 MW OPAL solar permit 7–0

A McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals hearing concluded with a unanimous 7–0 vote to approve Arena Renewables’ application Z250100 for an additional‑use permit to build the two‑megawatt OPAL commercial solar facility on roughly 17.9 acres in Door Township.

Arena Renewables’ Illinois director, Carson Winand, told the board the OPAL project would use about 13 acres of the 18‑acre parcel, is classified as a community solar project with a ComEd interconnection secured, and does not include battery storage in the current proposal. "We will post the decommissioning bond either with the county or the or the landowner," Winand said, adding the applicant’s draft decommissioning cost estimate is about $200,000.

The board’s approval followed technical testimony from consulting arborist Sarah Skoranski of Kimley Horn, who said the team surveyed 1,065 trees on the former nursery site and found only 14 mature oaks (about 1.3% of trees). Skoranski said the majority of trees are younger landscape cultivars from nursery plantings and are not representative of native McHenry County woodlands; many are not suitable for successful transplanting. "We surveyed 1,065 trees," she said, summarizing the scope of the inventory.

Board members questioned the applicant on ownership, construction timing, tree removal practices, and impacts to adjacent residences. Winand said the developer intends to purchase the parcel for the project in this instance (noting the company typically purchases ~20% of sites and leases ~80%) and expects to begin tree clearing during the November–March window required to reduce impacts to migratory birds, with construction then continuing into 2027 if permitted.

Neighbors raised concerns during a public‑comment period. Adjacent resident Nick Enders asked whether creating pollinator habitat under panels would help migratory birds if the trees nearby are removed; Skoranski answered that pollinator plantings increase foraging habitat by supporting insect prey but do not necessarily provide nesting habitat and that native plantings take three to five years to reach mature height.

Staff reported the parcel is zoned I‑1 (light industrial) with surrounding agricultural, industrial and single‑family residential uses. The staff presentation noted a partial overlap of the northern third of the parcel with a Class 3 special resource groundwater area; staff said they had not received an IEPA response but referenced prior IEPA guidance (35 Ill. Adm. Code 620.43 and related provisions) and concluded county and state regulatory requirements for the request had been met as presented.

During the meeting the board amended Condition 10 to explicitly require preservation of seven identified oaks on the northern property line that the applicant agreed could be retained. Miss Beverly moved the amendment; the motion carried on roll call. The board then approved the full package of 11 conditions as amended and voted to approve the conditional‑use request, forwarding the matter to the County Board with a 7–0 vote.

Several board members voiced support while stressing the importance of tree protections and mitigation. Members also noted the site’s zoning as light industrial and that the applicant’s plans include setbacks, a mix of evergreen screening and shrubs for adjacent homes, and a commitment that any future addition of battery storage would require a separate application.

The petition (Z250100) will proceed to the McHenry County Board with the conditions approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The hearing was closed after the vote.