Lake County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
APPENDIX T
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
§ 1.0 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
A. Project proposal.
1) Owner name, address, and phone number.
2) Photos of existing site conditions for proposed facility
3) Project summary including the manufacturer information, number of proposed solar modules, and proposed height of the solar arrays.
B. Site plan (drawn to scale).
1) Existing and proposed contours, at a minimum of two-foot intervals.
2) Location, setbacks, exterior dimensions, and square footage of all structures on the owner’s property and abutting properties within 100 feet.
3) Location and size of existing waterways, wetlands, 100-year floodplain, sanitary sewers, field drain tiles, storm sewer systems, and water distribution systems.
4)
Location of any overhead or underground power lines and utility easements. All power lines used to collect power and all communication lines shall be buried underground at a depth in accordance with the Agricultural Impact Mitigation Agreement and the current adoption of the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, whichever is more restrictive, until same reach the property line or a substation adjacent to the property line.
C. Waivers.
1) All setback or landscape transition yard waiver agreements shall be submitted with the application for the solar energy system.
2) Any setback or landscape transition waiver agreement between the property owner and adjacent property owner shall be recorded against the impacted properties with the Recording Division of the Lake County Clerk's Office.
D. Engineering plans, drawings, and schematics.
1) Manufacturer’s specifications of the solar modules, foundation, and detailed drawing of electrical components and installation details.
2) All electrical wire and lines connecting modules and any related structures.
E. Utility connection.
1) Developers of commercial and accessory medium and large-scale solar energy systems connected to the utility grid must provide written authorization from the local utility company acknowledging and approving such connection prior to building permit issuance.
F. Native plantings.
1) In order to prevent erosion, manage run-off, and provide ecological benefit, commercial and accessory medium and large-scale ground-mounted solar energy systems shall be planted with “low-profile” native prairie species, and use a mix appropriate for this region and site-specific soil conditions.
COMMENTARY: Pollinator Friendly Solar Site Act, 525 ILCS 55/1, establishes a scorecard for solar site vegetation that provides foraging habitat for game birds, songbirds, and pollinators, and prevents weeds, reduces storm water runoff, and erosion. |
G. Signage.
1) Signs on ground-mounted solar energy systems shall comply with the signage requirements of the underlying zoning district. A sign consistent with the standards of § 151.173 shall be required to identify the owner and provide a 24-hour emergency contact phone number.
H. Lighting.
1) Lighting of ground-mounted solar energy systems shall be consistent with § 151.168. Lighting of other parts of the installation, such as appurtenant structures, shall be limited to that required for safety and operational purposes, and shall be reasonably shielded from abutting properties. Where feasible, lighting of the solar energy system shall be directed downward and shall incorporate full cut-off fixtures to reduce light pollution.
I. Agriculture Impact Mitigation Agreement.
1) For commercial solar energy system projects, applicants shall provide an Agricultural Impact Mitigation Agreement (AIMA) executed between the applicant and the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
J. Natural resource protection.
1) For commercial and large-scale solar energy system projects, applicants shall provide a copy of the consultation application to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources pursuant to the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act (520 ILCS 10/11) and the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act (525 ILCS 30/17).
(Ord. 19-1378, passed 9-10-2019; Ord. 23-0675, passed 5-9-2023; Ord. 24-0207, passed 3-12-2024)