Moor Downs Golf Course's Historic Status Delays Rezoning for New County Building

Residents at a Plan Commission Wednesday night spoke against rezoning part of the to allow for a newbuilding to be located along Riverview Avenue.

The Plan Commission was asked to approve rezoning the property from a park district to an institutional district. However, because of the site’s historic designation, the city needs input from the state preservation officer and the city’s landmark commission before it can proceed. The Plan Commission tabled the request until after it receives opinions from those historic authorities.

According to City Planner Mike Hoeft, the site was placed on the National Register of Historic places in 1984 and became a local landmark 2001.

Proposed changes to Moor Downs would include shortening the fifth tee, from an estimated 315 to 225 yards, something residents said could cause the course to become unpopular.

“I think you just ruined a good golf course,” said resident Jim Hilden.

Resident Terry Booth said that he preferred that there would be no new building but if one were to be built, the only area that should be rezoned should be the site of the new building, not the existing building, too.

Rezoning the whole parcel would be “giving the county a blank check” to do what they wanted with the entire area, he said.

He also urged the Plan Commission to retain its authority over what is an important green space for the city and to keep control of the zoning of the property until the county decides what it wants to do with the existing building.

Hoeft noted that the new building would be visible from the homes on Buena Vista.

Residents along Buena Vista voiced their concerns at the meeting, one questioning the need to locate the new building on a “beautiful piece of land in the middle of the city of Waukesha.”

Dale Shaver, Waukesha County Director of Parks & Land Use, in regard to rezoning only the area where the new building is located, said that traditionally the county zones land as it is currently used. The current use of that land is institutional.

He also noted that the site for the new building was based on its proximity to the Juvenile Center since there are frequent staff interactions between the two locations.

Plan Commission Member Jo DeMars said  she was troubled by the request to make changes to a historic property.

“I’m troubled that this is the second time in my term on the Plan Commission that we have been asked to chisel away again at the Moor Downs Golf Course,” she said, noting that historic status is not something that is given lightly.