Politics & Government
Commission Stalls Rezoning for County HHS Building
Mayor Scrima originally wanted to deny the project to construct new Waukesha County Health and Human Services building.
The Waukesha Plan Commission decided Wednesday to postpone the final vote on the rezoning and construction of property on and around the Moor Downs Golf Course.
The heavily debated project would include the development of new facilities for the Waukesha Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The commissioners are calling for the vote to be held within the next three council sessions.
The proposal calls for the rezoning of 14.5 acres of land that enclose the current HHS building. This building and the Moor Downs Golf Course together comprise a local landmark. A replacement HHS building and maintenance facilities would be constructed adjacent to the original.
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The proposed construction would add more than 145,000 square feet of floor space to the site. However, the original plan would have to shorten the fifth hole of the golf course by almost 90 yards.
Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima, first made a motion to deny the requests for rezoning and construction approval, but after some discussion with the other council members, agreed to push the vote back.
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“We have to be concerned about the stewardship of our green space,” said Scrima in his initial reaction to the plan. “This is right in the heart of our city, and this is a resource to all of our citizens.”
The Landmarks Commission for a certificate of appropriateness, effectively saying it had no problem with the project. However, the vote was a slight majority and nearly half the commission disagreed.
During the public hearing, several Waukesha residents, as well as some aldermen of the Common Council, spoke openly to the Plan Commission. Most opposed the proposal, saying that the construction of the maintenance building across from Buena Vista Avenue would not be aesthetically pleasing and could potentially drive down property values. Some remarked that the project would lead to the neglect of the local landmark.
“I can rationalize it in my brain for the sake of the county residents that need a new HHS building,” said Alderwoman Kathleen Cummings about the proposal. “But for the people of Buena Vista Avenue … they’re going to get a garage. In my book, there should be a commitment to this landmark.”
