Economic Development Minutes 2024 03-05-24APPROVED 4/2/24
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UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 6:00pm
East Conference Room #337
651 Prairie Pointe Drive, Yorkville, IL
In Attendance:
Committee Members
Chairman Joe Plocher
Alderman Dan Transier
Alderman Seaver Tarulis
Absent: Alderman Chris Funkhouser
Other City Officials
City Administrator Bart Olson
Assistant City Administrator Erin Willrett
Community Development Director Krysti Barksdale-Noble
Planner I Sara Mendez
Code Official Pete Ratos
Other Guests
David Petesh via Zoom Mike Keith, Atwell
Dan Kramer, Attorney Hanna Udischas, Nexamp
Matt Kwiatkowski, Nexamp Patrick Childress, Global Access Partners
The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm by Chairman Joe Plocher.
Citizen Comments None
Chairman Plocher asked to move item #6 forward on the agenda.
6. EDC 2024-19 Corneils Solar Farm – Annexation, Rezoning and Special Use
Attorney Dan Kramer introduced the Nexamp representatives and the civil engineer and
noted that Nexamp will be moving their corporate headquarters to Chicago.
Ms. Noble summarized the project for the committee and said the property is outside
Yorkville's corporate boundaries on Corneils Rd. and will require annexation, rezoning
and a special use. It is 3 parcels on 94 acres owned by Gary and Betty Bennett and the
proposed solar field would be on 30-35 acres. There will be a Public Hearing for the
Annexation on April 23rd and all parcels will automatically be rezoned to R-1. The
petitioner will seek a rezoning to A-1 along with a Special Use. Ms. Noble described
other details of the project and said there are about 12,000 solar modules and there is a 20
years lease with a 20-year option to extend the agreement. The petitioner also meets the
proposed changes to the UDO. She noted a glare study had been completed and setbacks
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and height requirements are met. The fence, access road and landscape plan were also
noted and a decommissioning estimate was provided. A small area for battery storage
was mentioned and if allowed, will require special conditions for safety reasons.
Mr. Matt Kwiatkowski of Nexamp gave a brief overview of their company, number of
projects statewide and noted the project benefits including the tax base increase from
$2,300 to $14,000 in the first year, when used as a solar field. When the project has
finished the lifespan, it will be restored to farmland. Nexamp also has an inter-connection
agreement with ComEd.
Civil Engineer Mike Keith discussed the access, setbacks, battery storage and low noise.
Since they wish to expand the crossing of Rob Roy Creek, they are working with the
Army Corps, noting also that it is a floodway/floodplain. He said all wires will be
underground to the inter-connection point. He also talked about the landscape plan, the
pollinator mix and the chain link fence with the additional screening from the existing
tree line.
The proposed project will move to the April 10th PZC meeting for rezoning and special
use and then to City Council for an annexation Public Hearing.
Minutes for Correction/Approval February 6, 2024
The minutes were approved as presented.
New Business
1. EDC 2024-14 Building Permit Report for January 2024
Mr. Ratos said there were 15 single-family detached and 59 permits in general. He said it
was slower in January, partly due to the cold weather.
2. EDC 2024-15 Building Inspection Report for January 2024
There were 408 inspections, mostly single family homes. Some inspections were
outsourced, however, most were done in-house.
3. EDC 2024-16 Property Maintenance Report for January 2024
Mr. Ratos said there was only 1 case in January and involved a contractor using water for
about 4 hours with no meter and fined $75. He said the water department has asked for
strict enforcement of water usage to help decrease water loss.
4. EDC 2024-17 Economic Development Report for February 2024
The committee was referred to the report in the agenda packet.
5. EDC 2024-18 Ordinance Approving an Amendment to the Yorkville Unified
Development Ordinance Regarding Alternative Energy Use Standards (Solar Farms)
Ms. Noble said staff has incorporated 2 of 3 of the EDC requests for revisions regarding
solar farms. Text amendment revisions for typographical errors and some clarifications
from the transition to the UDO are also proposed. One of the requests was for a
minimum 1,000 foot distance from major roadways to solar farms and another request
was to add a minimum distance of 1,000 feet from the Fox River to solar arrays. An
EDC request was also made for a maximum of 5 solar farms in the city. After review by
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the City Attorney, she felt restricting the number was too broad, not applied to other land
uses and could result in future issues. Proposed changes to the Text Amendment were
also included for committee review.
Chairman Plocher asked about a past suggested moratorium for banks on major roadway
corners. Mr. Olson said no action was taken, but restrictions on drive-throughs were
implemented at that time. Alderman Transier commented he would like to see the
number of solar farms limited, so Mr. Olson suggested that conversation be brought up at
City Council.
The next step for this is the Planning and Commission meeting on March 13th.
Old Business: None
Additional Business: None
There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 6:27pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Marlys Young, Minute Taker