R2026-04 Resolution Authorizing Development Agreement Between City of Decatur, Illinois and Decatur Northwest 1, LLC

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ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MEMORANDUM January 5,2026 TO: Honorable Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and City Council FROM: Melissa Hon, Interim City Manager Lacie Elzy, Director of Economic& Community Development Miranda Lambert,Asst. Director of Economic & Community Development SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing Execution of a Development Agreement with Decatur Northwest 1 LLC for a Commercial Solar Energy Facility. SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of a resolution authorizing execution of a Development Agreement between the City of Decatur and Decatur Northwest 1 LLC for a proposed commercial solar energy facility. BACKGROUND: Decatur Northwest proposes to develop a commercial-scale solar energy facility on property located northwest of the intersection of West Mound Road and North Westlawn Avenue. The City and the Developer have negotiated a Development Agreement that establishes development standards, operational requirements, decommissioning obligations, and financial assurance provisions associated with the proposed project. The Development Agreement is intended to ensure that the solar facility will be developed and operated in a manner that protects the long-term interests of the City through the following: • The Developer is required to execute an Agricultural Impact Mitigation Agreement with the Illinois Department of Agriculture and remediate all impacted farmland in accordance with that agreement. • The Developer must submit an Operations and Maintenance Report every five years, documenting facility condition,repairs, complaints, service calls, and insurance coverage. • A professionally prepared Decommissioning Plan is required,detailing removal of all solar facilities and site restoration at the end of the facility's useful life or upon abandonment. • The Developer must provide financial assurance (bond or similar security)covering 100% of the estimated decommissioning costs,with the City named as beneficiary. • Failure to comply with the Development Agreement, rezoning ordinance, or applicable laws constitutes a default, subject to a cure period, and may result in repeal of Ordinance 2026-01 and other legal remedies. The Plan Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on November 6, 2025, and voted 8-1 to recommend approval of the rezoning petition. For further details,please refer to the attached Plan Commission staff report. POTENTIAL OBJECTION: There was one objector present at the Plan Commission meeting. The petitioner indicated that they knocked on doors in the neighborhood and sent out post cards without any objections noted to them. City Staff did not receive any calls or emails from individuals objecting to the petitions. INPUT FROM OTHER SOURCES: N/A