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Prairie Broom Solar petition moved to executive committee after zoning officer recommends approval
Summary
A Prairie Broom Solar special‑use petition covering 16 parcels in Alto and Reynold townships was recommended for approval by the zoning hearing officer and the county committee voted to send the petition to the executive committee for inclusion on the June county board agenda.
A Lee County committee voted to forward Prairie Broom Solar’s special‑use petition, 26P1660, to the executive committee after the county’s zoning hearing officer recommended approval.
Adam Samansky, identifying himself as “a director of development for Prairie Broom Solar,” told the committee the company submitted its application in mid‑April and was awaiting a recommendation from zoning hearing officer Brian Brim. Alice, the zoning representative, said Brim prepared a report recommending approval following a May 27 public hearing that drew roughly 15 people in the boardroom and 11 on Zoom and allowed evidence presentation, witness examination and public comment.
At the meeting the committee considered a motion “to move petition number 26P1660 with a corresponding draft resolution to the executive committee for inclusion on the June County Board agenda,” moved by Keen Hudson and seconded by Mike Copin. The chair called a voice vote: “All those in favor signify by saying I. I. All opposed. The motion carried.” The committee’s vote referred the petition to the executive committee rather than adopting or denying the petition itself.
Why it matters: the petition covers 16 parcels in Alto and Reynold townships and, if approved through the county process, would authorize a utility‑scale solar installation on agricultural parcels. The zoning hearing officer’s recommendation and the committee referral advance the petition to the next formal step: executive committee consideration and then possible placement on the county board agenda.
What happens next: the executive committee will review the draft resolution and the petition before it is placed on the county board agenda. The transcript records public participation at the May 27 hearing but does not record a final county board vote on the petition at this meeting.
Clarifying details: the petition was described as covering “16 parcels located in Alto and Reynold townships.” The zoning hearing officer’s report and the May 27 hearing record were cited as the basis for the recommendation; no dollar amounts, construction timelines, or final permit conditions for the Prairie Broom project were specified in the committee discussion.
