A proposed solar farm by Soltage Renewable Energy has cleared a key local hurdle after its representative presented a detailed landscaping and aesthetics plan that satisfied the Manhattan Township Board.

During their monthly meeting Tuesday, the board voted unanimously to issue a letter of “no objection” for Soltage’s special use permit application, which will now go before Will County for consideration. The decision came after Stephanie Sienkowski of Soltage outlined a series of commitments designed to address the board’s previous concerns about the project’s visual impact.

Sienkowski told the board that since a special meeting on January 30, she had consulted with Dick Ooykas of Green Garden Nursery to develop a plan using native plants and trees. The new landscaping proposal incorporates several specific requests from the township.

The solar farm will be surrounded by a 15-foot-wide vegetative buffer, with trees planted at a minimum height of six feet. The facility will be enclosed by a chain-link fence featuring a top pole to prevent sagging. All cables leaving the facility will be buried underground.

The plan also includes detailed maintenance schedules. Ground cover outside the buffer will be kept no taller than 12 inches and will be mowed at least five times a year between May and October. Inside the buffer, pollinator-friendly plants will be mowed annually in October.

To guarantee the upkeep, Sienkowski said Soltage will issue a surety bond with Manhattan Township, which the township can draw against if the property falls into disrepair or the mowing schedule is not followed. Furthermore, a decommission bond will be issued with Will County, and a separate surety bond will be provided to the Manhattan Township Road District to cover any potential damage to Cherry Hill Road during construction.

Following the presentation, the board, on a motion by Trustee Bill McGrath and a second by Trustee Eileen Fitzer, voted to approve the motion of no objection. Township Clerk Kelly Baltas will now draft and submit the formal letter to the Will County Land Use Department before its February 18 meeting.