The Village of Channahon has received notice from the Will County Land Use Department of a Public Hearing for a Special Use Permit regarding a 64-acre Commercial Solar Energy Facility (solar farm) proposed to be located on the east side of McKinley Woods Rd. between Bridge St./Hansel Rd. and the Village of Channahon water tower. This land is not currently incorporated into the Village of Channahon; while the County is supposed to afford us extrajurisdictional review, the Village received no application, only a notification of the County hearing.
The 2019 Re-Imagine Comprehensive Plan designates this land for residential use. The proposed use as a Commercial Energy Facility would be most similar to a power plant, requiring an I-2 Intensive Industrial District in the Village of Channahon. I-2 Intensive Industrial uses are not compatible with the neighboring residential areas or the planned land use as residential property.
In reviewing the proposed development for this property, Village of Channahon staff has found several detrimental effects that would impact the Village, including but not limited to:
- Not a compatible use of the land with the existing surrounding neighborhoods
- Nonconformance with the Village’s transportation plan
- Insufficient proposed screening from the surrounding neighborhoods
- Site security and safety
- Impact on future water use
- No required improvements or contributions for upgrades to McKinley Woods Rd. from the developer
While Village staff urges the Board of Trustees to support all forms of clean energy, they must be placed in the proper geographic location that meets the short and long-range plans of the Village of Channahon. Due to this and the above-mentioned concerns, Village staff has drafted a Resolution of Opposition to be considered by the Village of Channahon Board of Trustees at the Monday, May 6, 2024 Board Meeting.
The Will County Land Use Department’s public hearing on the matter is scheduled for May 21, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at the Will County Office Building (302 North Chicago Street, 2nd floor boardroom, Joliet, IL 60432). If approved by the Village Board, members of the Village of Channahon staff will attend and present the Resolution of Opposition for this project to the Will County Land Use Department to be officially read into record at the May 21 public meeting. The Village of Channahon encourages anyone with concerns on this matter to contact the Will County Land Use Department, and/or attend the public hearing on May 21, 2024.