Lakemoor trustees to vote on controversial solar farm on golf course land Tuesday
The Pistakee Country Club could soon be converted to a solar farm in Lakemoor, but neighbors living nearby have issues with it.
Many neighbors spoke against the proposal in a packed zoning board hearing last month. Among their concerns is the potential impact of the solar farm on the nearby Chain O’ Lakes and property values, and how much noise it would generate.
Heidi Wolf, who lives across the street from the proposed development, said she was not 100% against solar energy, but not on that site. She is worried about property values and the environment.
The project team said it didn’t plan to change the terrain too much; there are some hills on the property. Wolf said she didn’t believe the team when they said there wouldn’t be mass grading and panels can’t sit on hills.
“I think it’s going to be very disruptive” in this area, Wolf said.
Some of the uses Wolf thinks could be better include a farm to teach students or be donated to the conservation district.
Wolf said the golf course had been for sale for some time, but was surprised to see the owners have an offer like the solar farm.
Lakemoor officials said having the proposal in their town, rather than unincorporated McHenry County, would allow them to have more control over it and make it better for the neighbors.
An annexation agreement for the land at 815 Bay Road, near the intersection of Bay and Cuhlman roads was on the table Tuesday evening. The agreement, the “reclassification” of the property and a conditional-use permit to allow the solar farm were expected to be taken up by the board. The property borders Lakemoor on multiple sides.
According to the proposed annexation agreement, the conditional-use permit would last for at least 45 years. The annexation agreement would be in place for 20.
Suzana Draginis, who also lives by the proposed solar farm, said the longest time frame for a solar farm she knew of would be 25 years and questioned the length of the permit.
Some of the 19 conditions the zoning board recommended include seed mixes be approved as native, noninvasive species, per IDNR recommendation; “landscape and plantings on the project be conducive to the propagation of the Rusty Patch Bumblebee”; and the petitioner should work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “for recommendations prior to finalizing and implementing the landscape and screening designs.”
The zoning board also stipulated the petitioner follow EPA guidelines for panel recycling and disposal at the end of the project and to take groundwater samples and test them at least every two years against a baseline.
If the property is to remain unincorporated, the McHenry County Board likely would take up any solar proposals. County board members have expressed frustration with Illinois law that limits counties’ abilities to restrict solar farms and feel they must vote to approve them to avoid a potential lawsuit. The county has been sued over restrictions, but also has sought to get back some of its authority on the issue.
Gloria Foxman, who works for the company proposing the solar farm, Turning Point, LLC, said the company’s vision for the property was quiet and screened. Project representatives said there would not be additional impervious surface under the panels and thus there wouldn’t be any additional runoff.
The petitioners said benefits to the community include the potential to save money on electricity, improved soil health and local jobs, and cited a study that found solar farms didn’t negatively impact property values.