Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board of Adjustment approves Grant Solar LLC setback variance over one dissent
Summary
The McCook County Board of Adjustment voted 4–1 on Nov. 26 to adopt findings and approve a setback variance for Grant Solar LLC on parcels owned by Townsend Family LLP and RAEA1 Farms LLC after a public hearing and presentations by National Grid Renewables representatives.
At a Nov. 26 Board of Adjustment hearing, the panel adopted findings and approved a setback variance requested by Grant Solar LLC that affects multiple parcels near Montrose. Anna Flogstad, staff appraiser, presented the variance application and National Grid Renewables representatives Amber Miller, Mollie Smith and Victoria Orchard explained the request, saying it does not change the outer project boundary.
Public questions focused on whether future landowners must remain in the project if a lease is pulled and whether taxes on the parcels remain assessed as agricultural; meeting comments indicated parcels must stay in the project and taxes are assessed on an agricultural basis. States Attorney Mike Fink advised the Board it could adopt the findings as presented. Commissioner Chuck Mehlbrech moved to adopt the Grant Solar findings; second Dean Koch. The adoption and the subsequent motion to approve the variance carried with Ayes: Koch, Mehlbrech, Gordon and Chairman Charles Liesinger; Nay: Marc Dick.
The variance approval followed questions from residents about why the change was not part of the original conditional use hearing. The Board closed public comment before voting. There was no amendment to the conditions in the motion recorded in the minutes. The hearing record includes the application documents and the adoption of the findings form.
