Galesburg’s Planning & Zoning Commission will consider preannexation agreements Tuesday for two proposed solar farms on the city’s north side, but the vote would not approve either solar project itself.
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The first proposal, Barber Pole Solar, would annex about 69.6 acres near the U.S. Route 34/150 interchange, generally east of 531 W. Carl Sandburg Dr. (Lowe’s Home Improvement), between North Henderson Street and Lincoln Park Drive. The land would be zoned B-1, Neighborhood Business, upon annexation.
The second, Corn Maze Solar, would annex about 71.6 acres in the 1600 block of West Carl Sandburg Drive, west of Galesburg High School’s athletic fields, with the Fremont Street fire station on the south end and the Knox County YMCA to the north. That land would be zoned AG, Agricultural, upon annexation.
Both parcels are owned by MSM Family Investments, LLC, which is proposing to lease the land to the respective solar developers for community solar facilities.
City Community Development Director Steve Gugliotta said the preannexation agreements don’t approve the solar projects, but do give the city more control if the properties are eventually developed.
“The preannexation agreements establish the framework under which the properties could be annexed into the City, but they do not approve the solar projects themselves,” Gugliotta said. “From the City’s perspective, preannexation provides an opportunity to ensure that if these properties are developed, they will be subject to the City’s zoning regulations, development standards, review and permitting processes.”
Gugliotta said annexation also gives the city a potential long-term benefit.
“Should the properties ultimately be annexed, any future development proposals would be reviewed under the City’s zoning ordinance, building codes, stormwater regulations, and other applicable development standards,” he said. “Like any annexation, it also has the potential to expand the City’s tax base over time, although the actual fiscal impacts would depend on the final design and valuation of the projects.”
Gugliotta said the timing of the two proposals reflects a broader pattern rather than anything specific to Galesburg. “Interest in solar development has increased across Illinois in recent years due to state and federal renewable energy incentives and continued demand for clean energy generation,” he said.
If the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval Tuesday, the agreements would move to City Council for consideration, likely during its August meetings.
Gugliotta emphasized that even a recommendation of approval wouldn’t authorize construction.
“The City has not yet received site plans, engineering plans, zoning applications, or building permit applications for either proposed project,” he said. “Those would all need to be submitted and reviewed through the City’s normal development review process before construction could occur.” Because of that, Gugliotta said the city can’t yet estimate a timeline for when either project could break ground.
Gugliotta said the developer behind both proposals, Trajectory Energy Partners, has worked in Galesburg before. The company developed the Southside Community Solar project in partnership with Nexamp, which allows local residents to participate in community solar and save on their electric bills without installing rooftop panels. WGIL reported on that project in March.
Trajectory and Nexamp also developed Blue Grama Solar, a community solar farm on South Farnham Street that opened in June 2025. WGIL covered the ribbon-cutting for that project.
Gugliotta said Trajectory has also proposed a separate utility-scale project, Blackberry Solar, also on South Farnham Street.
The Planning & Zoning Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 21. Click here for the agenda.

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