Green light for a solar farm: Over objections, board OKs permit for farm outside Forreston

FORRESTON – A property owner who was given the green light for a solar farm on his land said he knows officials have had to deal with their fair share of frustrations during the process, but he said the project will have long-term benefits for the community.

Despite the recommendations of three government bodies to not grant a special use permit to Rod Wubbena, the Ogle County Board gave its official thumbs up last week for a permit that will allow Elkhorn Solar LLC to lease approximately 260 acres from Wubbena and his family at 6974 state Route 26 north, about 1,400 feet outside Forreston.

Cypress Creek Renewables plans to build a 20-megawatt solar farm there and hopes to begin construction late this year or early 2019.

The board approved the request despite recommendations against it from the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Regional Planning Commission, and the Forreston Village Board.

The Planning and Zoning Committee recommended approval.

“It’s obviously a benefit for our family, but I believe it has long-term benefits for the community,” he said March 21 after the county board approved his request by an 18-3 vote. “I appreciate the frustration the board has gone through with all their process. I feel there was a lot of homework needed that didn’t get done, so there was unusual circumstances that created the need for an unusual exception.”

Prior to the vote, County Board member Dan Janes, who's also chairman of the Supervisor of Assessments, Planning and Zoning Committee, said he and other board members recently received more than 200 pages of information about the solar farm that didn’t go through the Zoning Board of Appeals, Regional Planning Commission, and Planning & Zoning Committee, as required for the zoning process.

“I believe it’s important to follow the process. It provides a free and fair opportunity for everyone,” Janes said, noting that people should have an opportunity to address the committees during public hearings.

Board chairman Kim Gouker cautioned board members to disregard any information received outside the legal process.

Fellow board member Skip Kenney said he had a hard time “trying to understand the negative impact this will have on the Village of Forreston. The solar farm is outside the village limits.”

Board member Ron Colson said solar farms are a permitted use under AG-1 (agricultural use) zoning, which is how Wubbena’s property is zoned.

NEXT MEETING

The Ogle County Board next meets at 5:30 p.m. April 17, in the third-floor boardroom at the Ogle County Courthouse, 105 S. Fifth St. Go to oglecounty.org for agendas and more information.

Some property owners have voiced opposition to the project, saying they are concerned about the village not getting a share of the property tax revenue from the farm, taking farmland out of production, and property values taking a hit.