Frankfort Village Board Opposes Solar Farm Proposal

FRANKFORT, IL — The Frankfort Village Board has stated its opposition to a proposed solar farm in unincorporated Green Garden Township.

At Monday's meeting, the Board approved a resolution opposing the zoning case, which is proposing a solar farm on vacant property west of 104th Avenue at the terminus of Kuse Road.

The new proposal comes after two proposals for solar farms in Will County have fallen through over the past few months. The first was planned off of Manhattan-Monee Road, but the developer pulled the application; and the second, planned in Green Garden Township, was denied by the Will County Board.

According to Board documents, the property is located within the Village's 1.5-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction, so the matter comes before the Board for review and comment.

The 5-megawatt farm would be built on the vacant 71.64-acre property off of 104th Avenue, according to Board documents.

"We are not opposed to green technologies or solar," Mayor Keith Ogle told Patch in an email. "The proposed Solar Farm location in Green Garden Township however is within the Village of Frankfort’s 1.5 mile extra-territorial jurisdiction and is inconsistent with our 2040 Comprehensive Plan for future land use and development in that area, which is identified for single-family residential and rural."

"Our Village Board was unanimous is opposing that location. Green Garden residents I spoke with have overwhelmingly expressed their opposition based on the location," he added.

The special use permit will be up for consideration at the Will County Land Use and Development meeting on Dec. 12, and the Will County Board meeting on Dec. 21.