Grundy Reporter

Grundy County Zoning Board of Appeals Committee met April 15.

Here is the agenda provided by the committee:

I. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance 

Attendee Name	Title	Status	Arrived
Dick Joyce		Present
Bob Breisch		Absent
Lisa Lynch		Present
Mark Hill		Absent
Al Skwarczynski		Present
Mark Sandeno		Present
Ryan Cryder		Present
Mary Kucharz	County Administrator	Present
Heidi Miller	Land Use Director	Present
Alec Macdonald	Director of Development	Present
Beth Skoff	Land Use Assistant	Present

Julio Huerta - Petitioner

Bipin Sharma - Petitioner

John Riley

Dr. Jennifer Thomas

Shelly Leechman

Patricia Miller

Justin Sebright

Patrick Wunder

Chris O'Brien

Oscar Torres

Erin

Mickey Poppelwell

Sheree Stilwell

John Talty

Jimmy Ratferty

Christine Laughlin

Mike

Dorothy Cerven

Kim Wasielewski

Denis Karr

Leondus Williams

Tito Aguiro

Justin Ruckachar

Patricia Christensen

Joel Chase

John Nolander

Mike McCay

Ben Jacobi - Petitioner

Colin Walker - ECA Soalr

Andy Galone - Engineer

Ben Dikama

Andrew Lines

Chris Dearth - City of Morris Atty

Mike Houfman - City of Morris Planner

Butch Rider

II. Approval of Minutes 

1. Zoning Board of Appeals Committee - Public Hearing - Mar 18, 2025 7:00 PM March 18, 2025 Minutes were approved.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Mark Sandeno SECONDER: Dick Joyce AYES: Joyce, Lynch, Skwarczynski, Sandeno, Cryder ABSENT: Breisch, Hill

III. Official Business 

1. Petition 25-ZBA-004 Map Amendment A-Agricultural to AR-Agricultural Residential - Huerta

Vice Chair Skwarczynski asked Miller to read summary. Miller read summary for 25-ZBA-004 for a map amendment from A -Agricultural to AR-Agricultural Residential. Saneno asked about lot limits. Miller stated that no other building permits are allowed, stating the need for the amendment. Vice Chair Skwarczynski swore in Huerta. Huerta stated the need for the amendment to build a house for him and his father, one on each lot. Vice Chair Skwarczynski asked when he plans to build. Huerta said with in a year. Sandeno asked sized of parcels. Huerta said they are 5 acres each. Cryder asked 1 road cut for each lot. Huerta stated yes.

Public comment closed at 7:13pm.

There were no problems with any of the 8 Lasalle Factors.

Positive recommendation to accept and move to Land Use.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED APPROVAL [UNANIMOUS] Next: 4/23/2025 4:30 PM  MOVER: Dick Joyce SECONDER: Lisa Lynch AYES: Joyce, Lynch, Skwarczynski, Sandeno, Cryder ABSENT: Breisch, Hill

2. Petition 25-ZBA-006 Special Use for a Drug/Alcohol Rehabilitation Facility - Dr. Sharma

Vice Chair Skwarczynski asked Miller to read summary. Miller read summary for petition 25-ZBA-006 for a Special Use for a Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Facility. Dr. Sharma, petitioner, spoke about the drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. Vice Chair Skwarczynski read a letter into record from Andy and Shelly Leachman opposing the petition being to close to residents. John Riley spoke against facility, was out of the 500ft notification radius, does not want in location proposed. Dr. Jennifer Thomas, supports the need for the facility. Leachman spoke of opposition being in rural area. Pat Miller spoke in opposition, about leaving AMA and long Uber waits. Justin Seibright spoke in support of the facility. Patrick Wunder, Chris O'Brien, Oscar Torres also spoke in support. Skeeter Ernin(sp) spoke in opposition as well as Mickey Poppelwell. Sheree Stilwell, John Talty, Jimmy Ratferty, Christine Laughlin also support the facility. Mike Provence questioned zoning, stated doesn't fit in neighborhood.

Dorothy Cervenm, Kim Wasielewski, Judd Houman also spoke in objection of the center. Dennis Karr, Leondus Williams, Tito Aguiro, Justin Ruckachar spoke on support of the facility. Patricia Christensen, Joel Chase and spoke to their objection on the facility. Objections ranged from not wanting it in the location chosen (rural Grundy County), need for extra emergency services for the location and quicker response times to the location being emergency services of Uber pick ups, property values, and safety of the community. Supporters of the petition spoke of how a facility like this helped them and the need for drug/alcohol rehabilitation facility in the area to help. Dr. Sharma clarified questions from the public and tried to clear up some misconceptions. John Nolander spoke in opposition of location. Mike McKay spoke in opposition.

Public comment closed at 9:23pm and Vice Chair Skwarczynski read one last opposition letter from Ashley and Marcus McKinney on strain on emergency services, public safety, security risks and groundwater safety.

There were no problems with any of the 8 LaSalle Factors.

Cryder clarified the conditions that Miller explained.

Cryder made motion to move to Land Use with positive recommendation with the 9 conditions. Motion passes 5-0.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED APPROVAL [UNANIMOUS] Next: 4/23/2025 4:30 PM  MOVER: Ryan Cryder SECONDER: Mark Sandeno AYES: Joyce, Lynch, Skwarczynski, Sandeno, Cryder ABSENT: Breisch, Hill

3. Petition 25-ZBA-001 Gore Road Community Energy Initiative -Solar Farm

Vice Chair Skwarczynski asked Macdonald to read summary. Macdonald read summary to petition 25- ZBA-001 for a solar farm for Gore Road Community Solar. Vice Chair Skwarczynski asked Macdonald about the City of Morris' comp plan, he then referred to Chris Dearth. Vice Chair Skwarczynski asked how big it would be. Macdonald stated it is 37.5 of 155 acres. Petitioner Ben Jacobi, Colin Walker, Andy Galone, Ben Dikama and Andrew Lines spoke about the solar project. Chris Dearth, City of Morris Atty, spoke in opposition of the solar farm based on its location. Butch Ryan spoke in support of the solar farm. Dearth spoke on prior litigation of a solar farm. Sandeno question placement of solar farms location based on the comp plan. Dearth explained that location is included in the comp plan. Jacobi spoke about City of Morris not wanting solar within 1.5 miles of city and possible exclusionary zoning. Dearth stated there is no such policy of not wanting solar within city limits. Jacobi read from email received.

Public comment closed at 10:45pm.

There were no problems with any of the 8 Lasalle factors.

The ZBA and Kucharz discussed a couple of the Lasalle factors and zoning.

Cryder questioned time line of start of project, Macdonald explained it is 1 year.

Motion by Sandeno of positive recommendation to Land Use, Cryder makes a second, and vote Aye. However, Joyce, Lynch and Skwarczynski are Nays. Motion fails 3-2.

Another motion is set forth to deny the solar farm to send to Land Use Committee.

Motion passes 3-2.

RESULT: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE [3 TO 2] Next: 4/23/2025 4:30 PM  MOVER: Lisa Lynch SECONDER: Dick Joyce AYES: Joyce, Lynch, Skwarczynski NAYS: Sandeno, Cryder ABSENT: Breisch, Hill

IV. Old Business

There was no old business discussed.

V. New Business 

There was no new business discussed.

VI. Adjournment 

1. Motion

Meeting was adjourned at 11:00 pm.

RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Mark Hill SECONDER: Lisa Lynch AYES: Joyce, Lynch, Hill, Skwarczynski, Sandeno, Cryder ABSENT: Breisch

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