Will County P&Z Logo Planning Zoning.2

Committee Grants Lenox Solar Farm Project Six-Month Variance Extension

November 25, 2025/
Spread the love

Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | November 18, 2025

Article Summary:
The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission has approved a 180-day extension for variances tied to a commercial solar energy facility in New Lenox Township. The extension provides the developer, Greenpath New Lenox LandCo LLC, with the necessary time to prepare the site for planting pollinator-friendly ground cover in the spring of 2026.

Solar Farm Variance Extension Key Points:

  • Location: Vacant property on South Spencer Road, New Lenox Township.

  • Project: A 4.95-megawatt commercial solar energy facility.

  • Variances Extended: Four variances related to increasing ground cover height to 36 inches and reducing required mowings from five times to one time per year.

  • New Expiration Date: The variances will now expire on August 16, 2026.

JOLIET, IL – A commercial solar energy project planned for New Lenox Township received a procedural green light on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, as the Will County Planning and Zoning Commission granted a six-month extension for its previously approved zoning variances.

The applicant, Greenpath New Lenox LandCo LLC, requested the 180-day extension to prevent the variances from expiring on February 18, 2026. According to a staff memo, favorable planting conditions for the pollinator-friendly ground cover planned for the site are not expected until after that date. The extension was the first of two possible 180-day extensions allowed by the ordinance.

The commission originally approved the variances in February 2025. They allow the developer to increase the maximum height of ground cover plants from 13 inches to 36 inches and reduce the number of required mowings from five times per year to just once. These changes are designed to support the establishment of a native pollinator habitat on the site, a practice encouraged by the Illinois Pollinator-Friendly Solar Site Act.

The project involves two parcels on South Spencer Road and is planned as a 4.95 MWac commercial solar energy facility. With the unanimous approval of the extension, the variances will now remain valid until August 16, 2026, allowing the developer to proceed with site preparation and planting in the spring.

Community Events

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

26 states participate in federal SAVE program to ensure only US citizens are voting

26 states participate in federal SAVE program to ensure only US citizens are voting

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square In less than a few months, 26 states have begun working with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to ensure only U.S. citizens are voting...
Key races across U.S., redistricting at stake as voters head to polls Tuesday

Key races across U.S., redistricting at stake as voters head to polls Tuesday

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Governor’s races, city mayoral campaigns and redistricting initiatives will bring voters to the polls on Tuesday for a consequential off-year Election Day. Elections in California,...
Mokena Logo Graphic.6

Mokena Village Board Approves Two Public Works Appointments

Village of Mokena Board of Trustees Meeting | October 13, 2025 Article Summary: The Village of Mokena has filled two key roles in its Public Works Department following board approval...
Nigeria leaders deny Christian genocide, UN attributes violence to 'climate change'

Nigeria leaders deny Christian genocide, UN attributes violence to ‘climate change’

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Nigerian leaders continue to deny that Christian genocide has been occurring for years as the United Nation has attributed the violence to “climate change.” Over...
Congressional Perks: House members, staff get daycare, on-call doctor

Congressional Perks: House members, staff get daycare, on-call doctor

By Arthur KaneThe Center Square Job perks like an on-call doctor, on-site daycare and millions of dollars for food, beverages and bottled water sound like something offered to employees of...
California leaders hope for high voter turnout for Prop. 50

California leaders hope for high voter turnout for Prop. 50

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square With only one day to go in California before Election Day, legislators expect to see a relatively high voter turnout for the Golden State’s congressional...
Voters to decide two statewide measures, nearly 100 local proposals

Voters to decide two statewide measures, nearly 100 local proposals

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square As Colorado voters prepare for Election Day, they will vote on two statewide ballot measures and nearly 100 local measures across 30 counties. Those measures...
WATCH: Coalition sues to protect student loan forgiveness

WATCH: Coalition sues to protect student loan forgiveness

By Dave MasonThe Center Square Democratic attorney generals from 22 jurisdictions sued the U.S. Department of Education Monday over its new rule limiting Public Student Loan Forgiveness for government and...
Judge: SCOTUS ruling doesn’t necessarily end block on Trump DEI orders

Judge: SCOTUS ruling doesn’t necessarily end block on Trump DEI orders

By Jonathan Bilyk Legal NewslineThe Center Square A Chicago federal judge has declined to pare back his order blocking the Trump administration from cutting off federal funds to groups that...
WATCH: California attorney general talks about Prop. 50

WATCH: California attorney general talks about Prop. 50

By Dave MasonThe Center Square California has nothing to hide. That’s Attorney General Rob Bonta’s response to The Center Square’s question about the U.S. Department of Justice assigning monitors to...
Illinois quick hits: Man charged with threatening Trump; judge grants injunction in shelter funding case

Illinois quick hits: Man charged with threatening Trump; judge grants injunction in shelter funding case

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Man charged with threatening Trump For the second time in less than a week, a person from Illinois has been charged...

WATCH: IL GOP Rep: Sanctuary expansion bill may expose many to civil lawsuits

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House and Senate leaders are touting legislation they say will protect people from federal immigration enforcement,...
Senators introduce legislation to codify Antifa terror designation

Senators introduce legislation to codify Antifa terror designation

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square More than a month after President Donald Trump designated Antifa a domestic terror organization, a group of senators is proposing legislation to codify the president’s...
DHS proposes billion dollar expanded DNA testing for immigrants

DHS proposes billion dollar expanded DNA testing for immigrants

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a multibillion dollar proposal on Monday to increase biometric scanning during the immigration process. The proposal would expand...
Trump administration resumes visa processing despite shutdown

Trump administration resumes visa processing despite shutdown

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square After a month of halted operations, the U.S. Department of Labor will begin processing necessary documents for visa and permanent resident applications again. While agencies...