After nearly a year of public hearings, the Bureau County Zoning Board of Appeals last week made a recommendation to the Bureau County Board to deny conditional use permits for the proposed Walnut Ridge Wind Farm. ...the zoning board of appeals also recommended denial of an extension request of the 2008 conditional uses permits that were previously extended in 2011 and requested again in 2014.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

The Bureau County Zoning Board of Appeals is recommending the Bureau County board turn down all conditional-use permits for the proposed Walnut Ridge LLC wind farm. The recommendation came after a public hearing Wednesday night. 

Zoning/Planning Illinois

Macon County officials failed to provide statutory notices for a public hearing as well as essential information in-regard to the proposed wind farm project, a petition for review filed by landowners near the project’s location claims. ...Other issues the claim raises includes how residents who sought information on Twin Forks’ application were not given a copy until after the initial Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, which the case states prevented opposition from gathering information and providing its own experts to speak to the county board on the potential negative impact of the project.

Legal Illinois

This land is set to become a wind farm, but dozens are suing the county to stop it from being built. Almost 40 residents have signed onto the lawsuit. They say their rights have been violated, specifically their right to due process. Landowners say the county zoning board didn't provide enough notice for meetings about the project and they feel their voices are being ignored. 

Legal Illinois

After nine months of testimony and cross examination, and supportive votes cast by the ZBA, the full county board met and PASSED the following with a 9 to 3 margin: All wind turbines must be placed at a minimum of 2640 feet from a PROPERTY LINE.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

Following 9 months of testimony and cross examination as well as supportive votes cast by the Boone County zoning board of adjustment, the full county board met and passed this wind energy ordinance with a 9 to 3 margin. The ordinance provides for several protective provisions including establishing setback distances of 2,640 feet or 5.5 times the height of the wind turbine including the blades at the highest point, whichever is greater. A protion of the ordinance is provided below. The full document can be accessed by clicking the links on this page.

Zoning/Planning Ordinances Illinois

The Boone County Planning, Zoning and Building Committee on Wednesday voted 4-1 to recommend an amendment to an ordinance governing where wind turbines can be placed in relation to property lines. ...The revised ordinance states that wind energy conversion systems must be at least 2,640 feet, or 5.5 times the height of the turbine tower, away from a property line. The current ordinance states that wind turbines must be 1,000 feet from a residence.

Safety Zoning/Planning Illinois

An Illinois federal judge on Wednesday nixed a bid for attorneys' fees by property owners and renters in a dispute with the federal government over the environmental implications of a proposed tribe-backed wind farm, saying that eligibility issues among the individual plaintiffs had muddied the waters. 

Legal USA Illinois

After many months of ZBA hearings, Agriculture, Zoning and Emergency Services Committee discussions and a lot of contentious community discussion, the County Board finally voted 13-9 for the appeals board’s recommendation to deny the Invenergy application.

Legal Illinois

 It will now be up to the full Macon County Board to determine whether to allow the construction of more than 100 wind turbines. ...“I don't think we're asking you to vote 'no' and stop this thing and throw it out the window,” he said. “But for those of us who live here, it feel it's getting pushed through here all of a sudden.”

Zoning/Planning Illinois

Residents asking questions were told loudly, many times by E. ON's lawyer; "There is no risk." Property values will not be affected, noise is not a problem, flickering and other health issues just don't exist. I find that very interesting when there are a number of current lawsuits pending in multiple states and documented studies by experts that say otherwise. ...I think we deserve answers before our county approves their application.

Impact on People Zoning/Planning Illinois

A single action item on the Livingston County Board’s agenda Thursday night drew an hour-long debate over the legal and economic ramifications of its passage. The Board ultimately decided to table the item, which concerned Indian Grove Township requesting an ordinance change for its own specific township.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

“This just sets minimum standards for setup and decommissioning, and puts financial protections in place for landowners,” said Bill Bodine, associate director of state legislation for Illinois Farm Bureau. The agreements will address such property restoration issues as compaction of soil, and drain tile systems.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

American Wind Energy Management also has significantly scaled back its Sangamon County project from 200 turbines first envisioned in 2009 to about a dozen in the first phase of construction.

General Illinois

A new law, signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday, keeps control of winds farms in the hands of local governments.

General Illinois

In a statement released by Invenergy spokeswoman Suzette Peruyero, the company thanked the families and residents who supported the project and voiced their opinion during more than 35 meetings on the Pleasant Wind Energy Project.

General Illinois

Changes made by developers of a wind farm that the Logan County Board rejected in January were enough to win project approval on a second vote. The board voted 8-4 at a Tuesday night meeting in favor of granting a conditional use permit to the controversial $400 million development.

General Illinois

The Livingston County Board voted 13-9 to deny Invenergy’s wind farm application Thursday night. Approximately half of the auditorium burst into cheers upon hearing the results of the vote.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

Board Chairman David Hepler said Monday commissioners are prepared for large turnouts at an initial board meeting scheduled for Thursday at the Logan County Courthouse and at a second meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, when a board vote is anticipated. Both meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

The Logan County Zoning Board of Appeals came up with a two-to-two tie vote on a conditional use permit for the Meridien wind farm project on Wednesday. As a result, the project will go before the Logan County Board on July 16 and 21 with just five conditional recommendations from the ZBA.

General Illinois