Macon Reporter

Village of Forsyth Planning & Zoning Commission met Oct. 26.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

CALL TO ORDER

Planning and Zoning Chairman R. C. Campbell called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL

Upon call of the roll, the following Commissioners were physically present:

Regular Commissioners: Chairman R. C. Campbell, Cathy Mitteer, Dan Doerfler, Larry Perkins, Steve Ragan, Matt May, Vice Chair Dennis Downey

Alternate Commissioners: Colleen Brinkoetter, Tom Cantwell

Other Staff Present: Village Administrator Jill Applebee, Village Clerk Cheryl Marty, Building Inspector Dustin Pruitt, Stephanie Brown (Chastain & Associates Engineer representative)

Staff on Telephone: Village Attorney Andrew Jarmer

Others Present: Reed Sullivan, Leo Johnson, Jeff Holmes, Dan Curley

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION: Vice Chair Downey made a Motion to approve the minutes of September 28, 2023 as presented and Commissioner Doefler seconded the motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: Nays:

8 - Campbell, Mitteer, Doerfler, Perkins, Ragan, Brinkoetter, May, Downey 0 - None

Abstain: 1 - Cantwell

Motion declared carried.

PUBLIC HEARING #1

Request submitted by Maroa Forsyth CUSD #2 to vary the requirements of the Development Ordinance Section 3.18 to allow free-standing solar panels on the real property located at 642 E. Shafer, Forsyth, IL and legally described as Section 14, Township 17N, Range 3E., Prairie Winds, Lot 2. (PIN: 07-07-14-200-006).

Administrator Applebee explained the school district's need for free standing solar panels to be placed on middle school property to the east. Jeff Holmes, Interim Superintendent for Maroa/Forsyth School District outlined the project details. The project has been in the planning for 2-3 years as a means to secure cost savings. Installation of the solar panels will result in an estimated $100,000 annual savings to the district each year and eventually no cost will be had once the panels are paid off in 13 years. Life expectancy of the black panels is estimated to be 25-30+ years. Roof placement was considered but is not viable.

After a lengthy discussion, the Commissions agreed the following conditions should be included in any agreement the Board of Trustees would engage with: a solid fence at 8 feet which exceeds the height of the panels (which are 92”), with the fence being no farther north than the north side of the existing building, and the south fence being at least 150 feet from the south property line, with external landscaping on the north, east and south sides of the fence, and a note that this has to do with basically being allowed for school curriculum. The final legal wording will be refined by Village Attorney Jarmer for the purposes of this variance request.

MOTION: Vice Chairman Downey made a Motion to recommend approval of this request as presented including the additional points required by the Commissioners and Commissioner Brinkoetter seconded the motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas:

Nays: Abstain:

6 - Mitteer, Doerfler, Perkins, Brinkoetter, May, Downey 2- Campbell, Ragan

1 - Cantwell

Motion declared carried.

OLD BUSINESS

Review and discussion of Forsyth Code of Ordinances

Administrator Applebee cancelled discussion due to lengthy discussion above.

NEW BUSINESS

Re-appoint Steve Ragan and Cathy Mitteer (terms end in October 2023)

Administrator Applebee asked Commissioners Ragan and Mitteer if they desired to be reappointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission and both replied yes. The recommendation will now be made to the Board of Trustees for approval.

ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Perkins made a Motion to adjourn, no second was made, and Chairman Campbell asked for a voice vote which was then unanimously approved. The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 P.M.

https://forsyth-il.gov/vertical/sites/%7B18717005-44FD-438D-B0BC-B86101984F4F%7D/uploads/master_packet.pdf