McHenry County zoning board approves amended site plan for Adrena Solar community project

The McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals voted 7–0 to approve an amendment to conditional use Z250026 for the community solar project filed as Adrena Solar LLC, allowing a revised site plan and relocation of the access road at the northwest corner of Vandercar and Greenwood Roads in Hebron Township. Staff told the board they verified notice postings and had no objections to the amendment.

Abby Witlowitzky, vice president of external affairs for Trajectory Energy Partners, said the project is a two‑megawatt community solar installation intended to serve about 450 subscriber homes. "As a reminder, Angelina Solar is a community solar project," Witlowitzky said during the presentation, adding the developer expects subscribers to save local customers roughly $40,000 annually. The amendment was requested after the township road commissioner preferred moving the access roughly 700 feet from the originally permitted point; the county accepted that request, Witlowitzky said.

Project developer Matt Kopinski described minor panel‑layout changes, required setbacks, agricultural‑style fencing, and native prairie and shrub screening. He also provided an economic snapshot: "About $5,000,000 of total investment for a project of this size," with about 60% of that estimated to be labor and an estimated long‑term tax increase of roughly $250,000 over the project's 35‑plus year useful life.

The board closed the hearing, moved to the voting portion, and approved the conditions tied to the updated site plan before approving the conditional use amendment by unanimous vote. The motion passed with a 7–0 tally.