McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals met April 4.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair, James Finnigan called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
2. ROLL CALL: Secretary Philip Dick called the roll and noted the presence of a quorum as follows: James Finnigan, Michael Kuritz, Ruth Novosad, Brian Bangert, Shirley Deerwester, Rick Dean and Julia Turner. Also present were Jerry Stokes, County Engineer, Darrell Mitchell, Zoning Enforcement Officer, and Taylor Williams, Assistant State’s Attorney.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion was made by Dean/Kuritz to approve the minutes from the March 7, 2023, Zoning Board of Appeals meeting.
The minutes were approved by voice vote.
4. APPEARANCE BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: No one came forward to speak on matters not on the agenda.
5. REGULAR AGENDA:
Case SU-23-02, an application of the of Kieser Farms, LLC., in case SU-23-02 on parcels 34- 05-100-008 & 009. It is requesting to amend special use case SU-15-06 to allow the expansion of an agricultural processing facility in the M-1 Restricted Manufacturing District on property in Funks Grove Township at 1829 N 700 East Rd., McLean, IL.
Secretary Dick called the case, provided exhibits to the board, and submitted a staff report for review. He indicated that staff recommends that the proposed application meets all the standards of the Zoning Ordinance.
Ron Kieser, 3742 Yellowstone Dr., Normal, IL appeared to give testimony and was sworn. Mr. Kieser indicated that they are replacing existing grain storage with the proposed grain bins.
Motion was made by Kuritz/Bangert to recommend approval of case SU-23-02.
The roll call vote was seven members for the motion to recommend approval, none opposed, and no members were absent.
Case ZA-23-01, an application of the McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals in case ZA-23- 01. This is a text amendment of the Zoning Ordinance of the Code of McLean County Chapter 350, Zoning Section 350-26. Definitions: to add a definition of a Battery Storage facility, a Solar Power Generating Facility and to amend the definition of a Major Utility.
And to amend Section 350-43. OO. Use Standards for a Major Utility including a Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS), a Solar Power Generating Facility and to add use standards for a Battery Storage Facility.
Secretary Dick called the case, provided exhibits to the board, and submitted a staff report for review. He indicated that this text amendment is in response in part to the passage of Public Act 102-1123 requiring changes to County regulations for a Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) and a Solar Power Generating Facility. Use standards for a Battery Storage Facility are also included in this text amendment since such a facility is not listed as a use allowed in the Zoning Ordinance. And such a facility may be necessary in conjunction with a WECS and a Solar Power Generating Facility. He indicated that the text amendment will promote the public health, safety, comfort, morals, and general welfare, conserving the value of property throughout the County. He indicated that staff recommends that the proposed application meets all the standards of the Zoning Ordinance.
Catherine Metsker, 20645 N 825 East Rd., Carlock, IL asked Mr. Dick where he received information about battery storage.
Mr. Dick indicated that he received information from the Illinois Association of County Board Members and other counties.
Robert Lenz, 202 N. Center St., Bloomington, IL appeared to give testimony and was sworn. He indicated that he is an attorney who has represented road authorities in 12 different counties in Illinois and that he has followed amendments to state statutes since 2019. Mr. Lenz indicated that he thinks the public act was passed to help the State of Illinois meet its renewable energy goals. He indicated that for large scale solar facilities a road use agreement should be required. Mr. Lenz indicated that some large solar facilities occupy over 1,000 acres. He said that in Livingston County a pair of 2,000-acre solar farms are proposed. He said that a local road authority may need to hire someone to help supervise the installation of infrastructure. Mr. Lenz recommended that a solar farm special use application of over 1,000 acres should require a drainage study and a road use agreement.
Anna Ziegler, 2242 Westgate Dr., Bloomington, IL appeared to give testimony and was sworn. She submitted a two-page exhibit that included suggested changes to the proposed text amendment.
William Friedrich, 7880 N 1550 East Rd., Heyworth, IL appeared to give testimony and was sworn. Mr. Friedrich indicated that he thinks alternative energy projects cause neighbors to fight neighbors. He said that he believes everything that Anna Ziegler included in her document.
Catherine Metsker, 20645 N 825 East Rd., Carlock, IL appeared to give testimony and was sworn. She indicated that she has a concern that battery storage facility regulations as proposed could cause serious problems. She brought up an example of a battery fire in the City of Morris, IL that caused people living nearby serious problems; and the local fire department could not put the fire out with water. She indicated that local fire districts would need financial help to deal with fires and emergencies at battery storage facilities.
Mr. Lenz indicated in a closing statement that there are other bills pending in the legislature that will give further direction for wind and solar.
Ms. Ziegler indicated in closing that it is worth taking the time to address our concerns.
The board discussed the case and recommended that staff get together with Farm Bureau to propose an amendment for discussion at the May 2nd ZBA meeting.
Motion was made by Kuritz/Bangert to recommend to table case ZA-23-01 until May 2, 2023 at 7:30 PM.
6. ADJOURNMENT: The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 8:56 PM.
https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/9527
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