Kendall Township Votes Against Solar Farm

Ament Road Solar 1, LLC is proposing a 5-Megawatt AC commercial solar energy system on two parcels of land, totaling 95.3 acres, on Ament Road, roughly 0.33 miles west of Route 47 in Kendall Township. The solar farm would be located on a 39.34-acre portion of the two parcels. Commercial solar energy facilities are allowed in the Agricultural District with a Special Use Permit, according to Kendall County’s Zoning Ordinance Section 36-282.

Section 36-282(17a) requires that “All commercial solar energy facilities and test solar energy systems located within one and one-half (1½) miles of a municipality shall either annex to the municipality or obtain an annexation agreement with the municipality requiring the municipality's regulations to flow through the property.”  

In August 2024, the City of Yorkville decided not to enter into a pre-annexation agreement. Since Yorkville did not enter into an agreement, Kendall County became the governing body. The petitioner, Nicholas S. Bellone on Behalf of Ament Road Solar 1, LLC (Tenant) and Janet M. Dhuse on Behalf of the Janet Dhuse Declaration of Family Trust (Owner) are requesting a variance to Section 36-282(17a). They have requested to move forward without an annexation agreement.

The Kendall Township Planning and Zoning Commission voted and recommended approval of Petition 24-30 and sent it to the Kendall Township Board for approval.

At the Tuesday, January 21, 2025 Kendall Township meeting, the Board voted against the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to approve Petition 24-30. Steve Gengler (Township Supervisor) was the only member to vote in favor of the recommendation. Trustees Carolyn Pottinger, Don Hirsch, and Timothy Karales all voted against the solar farm. Trustee Doug Thanepohn was absent.

This will now require a supermajority vote when it goes before the Kendall County Board.