Will County committee approves 4.98‑MW special‑use permit for Will Township solar site

The Will County Land Use Committee voted to approve a special‑use permit for a 4.98‑megawatt commercial solar energy facility on a portion of an approximately 80‑acre parcel at 5949 West Eagle Lake Road in Will Township.

Planning staff told the committee the project would use roughly 40 acres and include about 9,800 panels, two equipment pads, an agricultural‑style fence, vegetative screening and pollinator‑friendly plantings. The staff presentation noted that a prior zoning approval covered the northern 20 acres and that the applicant is now seeking permission for a southern 51‑acre portion. Staff also said a noise study showed expected noise levels would meet Illinois Pollution Control Board noise regulations.

Chad Chibazi of Synergy Power, the project's developer, introduced himself to the committee and summarized the proposal: “My name is Chad Chibazi. I lead late stage development for Synergy Power,” he said, adding that the company has developed projects in multiple states and that the current installation is a second phase of a site owned by “Mr. Quain,” who attended the meeting in support. Chibazi also described community benefits, including a $200,000 donations pool and an estimated county property tax revenue of “approximately 20 to 25,000 dollars per year” tied to the project’s taxable acreage. He said local subscribers to the community solar project would receive a 10–20% credit on their ComEd bills.

Committee members pressed the applicant about construction access, noting portions of Eagle Lake Road are gravel. Chibazi said the developer plans to use Eagle Lake Road and, if necessary, build up the access road under a road‑use agreement; he also noted the site crosses a 100‑foot Enbridge pipeline easement and that the developer is negotiating a crossing agreement.

A member noted the planning and zoning commission vote had been split and that one objector at the zoning meeting had expressed concern about loss of farmland. Planning staff said the split stemmed in part from low attendance (four of seven commissioners), not additional substantive objections.

After no public comments at the committee session, the chair called the question and announced, “Motion carries.” The transcript does not record a detailed roll‑call tally for this vote.

What happens next: the committee’s approval moves the request forward in the county process; the applicant said it has met staff conditions including module height, setbacks, underground utilities, screening and security fencing and expects to proceed toward permitting and construction.