Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Planning and Zoning Commission for February 17, 2026

Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | February 17, 2026

JOLIET, IL – The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission met on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, with Acting Chairman John Kiefner presiding in the absence of Chairman Hugh Stipan. The meeting proceeded with a bare quorum of four commissioners.

The commission moved quickly through an agenda that included a major solar development in Peotone and a residential variance in Manhattan. Commissioners approved a 5-megawatt solar farm in Will Township and granted variances for a residential pole barn expansion in Manhattan Township, overriding staff recommendations on the latter.

News Briefs

New Lenox Variance Case Postponed
A scheduled hearing for a variance request in New Lenox Township (Case ZC-25-131) was postponed. The case involves Adam and Angela Kramski of 1171 Banbury Lane, who are seeking a variance to increase the maximum accessory building area from 1,800 square feet to 2,126 square feet for a proposed 30×40 detached structure. The commission voted 4-0 to continue the case to the March 3, 2026, meeting.

New Commissioner Appointment Imminent
During the announcements portion of the meeting, staff informed the commission that the Will County Board is scheduled to vote on appointing a new commissioner this Thursday. This appointment is expected to bring the Planning and Zoning Commission back to full strength for future meetings.

Solar Glare Deemed Insignificant
As part of the approval for the BAP Kwain Solar Project in Peotone, a glare study conducted by Barrett Energy Resources Group was submitted to the county. The study utilized the Solar Glare Hazard Analysis Tool (SGHAT) and identified that pilots landing on Runway 27 at Bult Field Airport could experience “green” glare for approximately 128 minutes per year. The report noted that under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) policy, green glare is considered a low potential for after-image and is deemed insignificant for aviation safety.