By Patrick Baron
BLOOMINGTON – Following a lengthy discussion concerning the placement of a proposed solar farm in Funks Grove Township, the McLean County Board opted to send the solar farm application back to the Zoning Board of Appeals with an 11-5 vote.
A number of board members raised questions surrounding the level of detail provided in the application submitted by Geronimo Energy. Board member and Land Use and Development Committee Vice Chairman Chuck Erickson said after some evaluation, the application was sent back to the ZBA in order to “cross some t’s and dot some i’s.”
“We can’t have a ‘possibly we did that’, we have to know that everything was done in accordance with the right process and that everything will be there to protect the taxpayer,” Erickson said. “We have to have reassurance of that. That’s all the county board is doing, is to make sure that if we pass this, that we feel confident that what we passed protects the taxpayer.”
Board member Catherine Metsker noted the land on which the solar farm would be built is “prime farmland”, a sentiment shared by other board members like David Selzer. Erickson explained by sending the solar farm application back to the ZBA, more research will have to be conducted to determine the best piece of land to build the farm on that doesn’t impede crop growth.
“Some members have had concerns that the solar farms are taking good Illinois agricultural farmland out of use and using it for something they believe has a better use,” said Erickson.
Board members also raised concerns about the usage of road permits in the application. Erickson said the board wants to make sure that if the company does eventually build a solar farm, there should be some measures in place that prevent local taxpayers from covering any potential damages to the roadways used in the solar farm’s construction.
“If a business comes into McLean County and says ‘we want to put a business here’ then fine, if you’re going to destroy our roads, then you’re going to help repair them because we’re not going to make the taxpayer do that. You’re getting a benefit,” Erickson explained.
Board members Carlo Robustelli and Paul Segobiano were among those who voted against sending the application back to the ZBA, saying if the application was presented to the County Board after unanimously passing through the ZBA, there would be no reason to feel the application was incomplete.
Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].
