Trustees request clarifications in draft zoning rules for wind, solar and geothermal systems

Trustees reviewed Draft Zoning Ordinance Division 11 and 12 (pages 114–154) and raised multiple detailed concerns. Trustee Mateja submitted emailed comments asking whether insurance and noise standards remain current (p.116), questioning whether an 18‑square‑inch sign (p.122) is legible enough for required warnings, and asking why county language appears in a village ordinance (p.125). Trustees asked whether any village-owned parcel is 30 acres or larger (p.126); Trustee Van Zeyl said there are no open parcels that large and asked the drafters to clarify applicability.

Trustees also probed technical treatment of solar installations. They asked why mounted solar panels count toward lot coverage despite being elevated (pp.144,147), requested clarity whether posting "at the base of the tower" applies equally to poles and towers (p.145), and whether vegetative or architectural screening suffices to prevent climbing on residential ground‑mounted solar or whether fencing (as required for commercial installations) is necessary. Trustees requested that the ordinance specify maintenance and composition of land under ground‑mounted solar (gravel, pavement, or other) rather than leaving the standard unspecified. Finally, trustees asked whether geothermal installations could be placed on lake bottoms for privately owned lakebed and suggested deferring to Lake County Building Department review for technical approvals (p.151).

The committee flagged several editorial fixes: confirm whether the $500,000 insurance requirement remains appropriate, specify who is responsible for required inspections and record filing (p.117), replace generic "state" with "Illinois" for IDNR references (pp.137 & 153), and clarify multiple definition and height-related formulations (pp.142,144). Trustees generally agreed these items should be clarified before the ordinance advances to a board vote.