Economic Development Minutes 2023 01-03-23APPROVED 2/7/23
Page 1 of 2
UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 3, 2023, 6:00pm
City Council Chambers
800 Game Farm Rd., Yorkville, IL
Note: In accordance with Public Act 101-0640 and Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation
issued by Governor Pritzker pursuant to the powers vested in the Governor under the
Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, remote attendance was allowed for this
meeting to encourage social distancing due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
All attendees were in person unless noted otherwise.
In Attendance:
Committee Members
Vice-Chairman Ken Koch
Alderman Chris Funkhouser
Alderman Joe Plocher
Other City Officials
City Administrator Bart Olson
Community Development Director Krysti Barksdale-Noble
Other Guests
City Consultant Lynn Dubajic Kellogg
Mike Krempski
David Guss
Tom Ryan/via Zoom
Dean Smith, New Energy/via Zoom
Connor Glow/via Zoom
Tony Puljic/via Zoom
The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm by Vice-Chairman Ken Koch.
Citizen Comments None
Minutes for Correction/Approval December 6, 2022
The minutes were approved as presented.
New Business
1. EDC 2023-01 Building Permit Report for November 2022
Ms. Noble reported 35 residential permits and 267 permits for the calendar year up to
November 2022.
2. EDC 2023-02 Building Inspection Report for November 2022
There were 726 inspections with 602 done in-house and 124 were outsourced.
Page 2 of 2
3. EDC 2023-03 Property Maintenance Report for November 2022
Ms. Noble reported only one case on the adjudication docket and it was dismissed.
4. EDC 2023-04 Economic Development Report for December 2022
Ms. Dubajic Kellogg gave a handout outlining the recent economic growth in the city.
She highlighted the businesses that will be opening including Scooter's Coffee, Fox
Valley Ortho, Viva La Funny Boutique, Station One Smokehouse and others.
5. EDC 2023-05 New Leaf Solar Energy – Annexation , Rezoning and Special Use
Ms. Noble said this project is proposed for the area of Eldamain and the railroad, next to
Whispering Meadows subdivision. The solar project would occupy 18 of the 48 acre
piece with the remainder continuing to be farmed. The property would be leased by the
solar company for 20 years with the option of 20 additional years. When the property is
annexed it will default to R-1 zoning, however, solar farms are not allowed under R-1.
The petitioner would ask to rezone to A-1 (agricultural) and a special use process would
also be required. The petitioner is proposing 9,700 arrays. Ms. Noble described the
equipment to be used and said noise should not be an issue. Landscaping and a fence will
be provided and a glare study was done as well. Staff recommended a Knox box and
keys for the fence. An estimate of $382,000 was given for de-commissioning, however,
the engineer is requesting a larger number to include inflation.
The committee raised several discussion points. It was requested that the fence height be
consistent with another solar field in the city which is 7.5 feet and the fencing type should
be chain link with slats. A compacted surface rather than gravel was requested for the
access road. The Committee also discussed stormwater, de-commissioning--if needed,
connections to the nearby power poles and power station. There was communication
with the railroad for any issues such as glare, however, New Leaf reps said it was not an
issue. In response to an inquiry about the petitioner contributing to Beecher Road
improvements, there has been no request from the city at this time.
This matter will move to City Council on January 24th for annexation and PZC in
February.
Old Business: None
Additional Business: None
There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 6:32pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by
Marlys Young, Minute Taker