Politics & Government

Commission Approves Waukesha County HHS Building on Golf Course

Revised plans include less impact to fifth hole in Moor Downs Golf Course.

Waukesha County obtained the approvals it needed Wednesday to move forward as it plans to construct a new Department of Health and Human Services building in the Moor Downs Golf Course complex.

The project for the new 137,012-square-foot HHS building and a maintenance building has appeared before the Plan Commission several times during the past few months. While area neighbors have fought the project, citing concerns about the effects to the golf course, the view, noise and traffic, the Plan Commission approved the project.

The project originally called for the fifth hole in the golf course to be shortened by 90 yards. Revised plans will shorten that hole by 30 to 40 yards, said Dale Shaver, the county’s parks and land use director.

Find out what's happening in Waukeshawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The maintenance building continued to be a point of contention for the neighbors and Alderman Vance Skinner and Mayor Jeff Scrima voted against the plans for the maintenance building. The vote to rezone the property and for the preliminary plans for the HHS building were approved unanimously.

“I am not convinced that there isn’t a less costly location,” Skinner said.

Find out what's happening in Waukeshawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Commissioner Rick Congdon said he would vote in favor of the maintenance building’s plans but it was “reluctantly so.”

“There is no perfect solution to this. There is absolutely none,” he said. “… I studied this long and hard, but I can’t find any better solution.”

Alderman Eric Payne, who is not on the Plan Commission but represent the neighbors near Moor Downs, said he was disgusted with Waukesha County, claiming the county blew off the neighbors who did not want the maintenance building near their properties.

“The county has heard concerns of neighbors,” Payne said. “Their answer is put a couple of trees up. They have totally disregarded anything the neighbors have talked about or done.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Waukesha