Moor Downs Rezoning Gains Council Approval

The Waukesha Common Council voted Tuesday night to rezone the Moor Downs Golf Course to pave the way for the new Waukesha County Health and Human Services building, a move that will shorten the fifth hole by 30 to 40 yards.

The plans for the project previously were approved, which included the modified impacts to the golf course. The original plans called for shortening the fifth green by 90 yards.

The plans have been met with opposition from the neighbors and area golfers who brought forward concerns about the impacts to the golf course, the view of the neighborhood and a maintenance building that is also being constructed on the site. Some of the neighbors were concerned about the noise from the maintenance building, so Waukesha County agreed to reconfigure the building to bring the noise away from the neighbors. The Plan Commission approved the plans for the maintenance building last week.

“I think what we have before us now is a good compromise,” said Alderman Vance Skinner.

However, Alderman Eric Payne – who represents the people near the golf course – opposed the project because the maintenance building is still going to be on the property. Payne did, though, thank the county staff members for making compromises as plans developed through the approval process.

“They are better about it, but they are still upset because the building is there,” Payne said about his constituents. Alderman Terry Thieme also voted against the rezoning request.

The three-story, 137,017-square-foot building will cost the county $36.7 million to construct. The current building on the Moor Downs Golf Course  – a 100-year-old building – will be vacant after the county moves into the new building.

The new building will house the Department of Health and Human Services, Veterans Services and the Aging and Disability Resource Center, replacing the current Health and Human Services building and the Public Health Center, according to a Sept. 17, 2010, county document.

Construction is expected to begin in spring 2012 and conclude in 2014.