McHenry Times

McHenry County Staff Plat Review Committee met Aug. 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

I. CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Sandquist called the meeting to order at 8:34 a.m.

Meeting called to order at: 8:34 AM by Dennis Sandquist.

PRESENT: Nomm, Colletti, Wallen, Sandquist, Moore, Beets ABSENT: Boeckmann

Dave Diamond, Riley Township Highway Commissioner, was also present.

II. PUBLIC COMMENT

III. DRAFT MINUTES FOR APPROVAL

Staff Plat Review - Public Meeting - Aug 1, 2018 8:30 AM

Motion by Mr. Wallen, seconded by Ms. Nomm

A Motion was made by Mr. Beets, seconded by Ms. Colletti to amend the agenda to move OneEnergy/Franks to the top of the agenda. All members voted aye, motion passed.

RESULT: ACCEPTED BY VOICE

IV. SITE PLAN REVIEW

A. One Energy/Franks - Conditional Use Permit to Allow for a Solar Farm - Petition

#18-033

MCDOT - Ray Beets Mr. Beets had no comments. The property is located on a township road.

TOWNSHIP HIGHWAY - Dave Diamond Mr. Diamond stated he had asked Mr. Griffith, from OneEnergy, in July what the plans for the barn on the property were. Mr. Griffith said he did not know. Mr. Diamond stated the barn is now demolished and the site was leveled. He pointed out that Pleasant Grove Road is limited to 9 tons of gross weight, and the property had significant demolition, and heavy equipment was out there without the township's consent. Remediation will have to be made. He asked that Mr. Udelhofen convey to the property owners, that this was done without a permit.

Mr. Diamond stated there is a one-time entrance permit fee of $250 payable to Riley Township Road District. A bond, at a rate to be determined, is required throughout the construction. This will be required by the road district and determined based on approximate truck traffic entering and exiting the proposed site. He stated he need to know the scope of construction, and what the duration of the construction will be.

The proposed entrance utilizing the existing field entrance is acceptable, however the Township would want the developer's cooperation in ensuring the approach to the entrance is graded properly to accommodate the proposed culvert.

STORMWATER - Joanna Colletti Ms. Colletti stated a drain tile survey would be required, and the drain tiles will need to be incorporated into the permitting process allowing access for repair. The historic flood of record area on the western edge of the parcel is not shown. The flood of record is required to be shown on the site plan.

Ms. Colletti mentioned they should confirm if there are any wetlands on the property. This would included farmed wetlands and regular wetlands. A wetland determination is required to make sure they are mapped on the site plan and the buffers are also required to be provided on the site plan.

ZONING - Darrell Moore Mr. Moore stated all conditions have seem to be met. He mentioned it looks like some of the poles are going to be in the road right of way. Mr. Diamond stated he would have to look at the site before he can determine if it was going to be an issue.

Mr. Udelhofen stated the placement of all of the poles is their best guess of what ComEd is going to want, but ultimately, they have total control on how the interconnection is designed and where those poles are located.

Mr. Beets pointed out that when a utility company wants to put a pole in the right of way, they are required to get a permit from MCDOT. Mr. Beets stated most of the sites he has seen have the poles on the site just behind the road right of way.

Mr. Udelhofen said he will modify the pole locations, both on his poles and ComEd's poles.

Mr. Moore mentioned they should anticipate there will be more conditions placed on the project by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

BUILDING - Adam Wallen Mr. Wallen stated fire apparatus access roads are required to have a 20-foot clear width which is the requirement based on the International Fire Code. He stated the Marengo Fire District want 20 foot clear all the way to the inverter. Beyond the inverter, they will require at least 12-feet clear to be able to get an ambulance or brush truck through.

Mr. Wallen noted coordination with the Fire Protection District is required for the actual driving surface. The fire code states it has to be suitable material for maneuverability of a fire apparatus.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - Patti Nomm No Comments.

Motion by Ms. Colletti, seconded by Mr. Wallen to approve the site plan subject to the changes required based on the comments made today.

All members voted aye, motion passed.

B. OneEnergyDahm Trust - Conditional Use Permit to Allow for a Solar Farm - 18-031

Present on behalf of OneEnergy Dahm Trust was Eric Udelhofen

STORMWATER - Joanna Colletti Ms. Colletti stated her comments are similar to the previous submission.

A drain tile survey will be required. There appears to be wetlands on the site, and those should be shown on the site plan along with the buffers.

MCDOT - Ray Beets Mr. Beets noted the property fronts both a Township and a County Highway. He recommended they contact the Greenwood Township Highway Commissioner regarding Raffel Road.

Mr. Beets stated the County's preference is to have access to one highway, preferably the township road. There is currently no access to the property to Charles Road. The recommendation is the access be solely off of Raffel Road. Mr. Beets stated because this is a change in use, it will require an additional right of way, and because Charles Road is designated a principle arterial, it will require a 70- foot half right of way, so that would require an additional plat of dedication to get to that 70 feet.

ZONING - Darrell Moore Mr. Moore asked about the overhead poles. He mentioned he counted three poles, and it is his understanding that four is required. He asked if they have an understanding of how many poles are required for the overhead lines.

Mr. Udelhofen stated with other projects they are working on, they have 3 poles. It depends on the utilities design standards.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - Patti Nomm No comments.

BUILDING - Adam Wallen Mr. Wallen stated his comments are identical to the previous submittal. He noted he thought the Woodstock Fire District would be attending the meeting. The Fire District provided feedback expressing that the perimeter of the site has a 20-foot clear access. Mr. Wallen noted the fire district is aware of this application, and coordination with the fire district will be required.

Motion by to Ms. Nomm, seconded by Ms. Colletti to have the site plan resubmit to the Staff Plat Committee with the changes noted today.

The Committee recommended to have the site plan on the agenda for the next Staff Plat meeting, and continue the ZBA hearing until September 12.

All members voted aye, motion passed.

C. OneEnergy/Gieseke - Conditional Use Permit to Allow for a Solar Farm - Petition #18-032

No Comments. The property is located on a township road.

STORMWATER - Joanna Colletti Ms. Colletti stated because this is a farmed agricultural property, a drain tile survey is required.

The limits of the flood hazard areas have not been provided, and they are required to be on the site plan.

Ms. Colletti noted areas of concern regarding the limits of the grass waterway wetlands that are potentially on the access drive or adjacent to the drive. These areas should be incorporated into the site plan, and the wetlands and buffers should be shown.

ZONING - Darrell Moore Mr. Moore noted the plat of survey submitted only includes the 20-foot easement connecting to the right-of-way, and that is required to be part of the petition. Mr. Moore stated in looking at where the overhead power lines are cited, they are entirely within the right-of way. This will be subject to township road approval and ComEd. He stated his concern is that if does not work out, they will only have a 20-foot wide designated area to work with, and 20 feet clear is the minimum access that is going to be required for emergency vehicles. After discussion, Mr. Moore said he would like to see a diagram with optional locations for the poles.

BUILDING - Adam Wallen Mr. Wallen stated his comments are the same as the previous submittal. He noted his concern is the fire access. It needs to be clear when the poles are installed. Marengo Fire District has authorized the 12 feet clear beyond the inverter for the ambulance and brush fire trucks, as well as the 20 foot clear access for emergency vehicles. The surface should be maneuverable the dimension suitable for the vehicles.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - Patti Nomm No comments.

Motion to by Ms. Nomm, seconded by Mr. Beets to approve the site plan and have it be forwarded on to Mr. Moore Patty 2nd by beets. All members voted aye, motion passed.

V. STATUS UPDATE

Mr. Moore noted Shabadoo is scheduled for a vote at the County Board next Tuesday.

Text amendments are also scheduled for a vote which include standards for solar farms is being revised.

Zamindar will be on the agenda.

VI. MEMBER COMMENTS

Dennis noted we are notifying township highway commissioners for site plan reviews the. He asked about Fire Districts and if they should be notified.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Ms. Nomm, seconded by Mr. Moore to adjourn. All members voted aye, motion passed.

The meeting adjourned at 10:40 a.m.

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