I posted information earlier today about the move by Kohler interests to get their proposed golf course property along the Lake Michigan shoreline annexed by the City of Sheboygan so perhaps the level of local opposition in the Town of Wilson would go away.
While that possible annexation may or may not happen, and may or may not have consequences both expected and unexpected, it's important to remember that the plan to convert a 247-acre wooded-and-wetland-and rare dune-rich nature preserve
into a high-end, groundwater-sucking and traffic spawning private facility at the edge of the lake still faces many hurdles regardless of which local jurisdiction the golf course is allowed to put on its return address, including:
* Tribal approvals. Remember that the Bad River band's treaty rights and legal prerogatives were among the key reasons the proposed Gtac open-pit iron mine plan for the Bad River watershed collapsed. A new national report about that is here.
This is relevant because the proposed golf course site was occupied long ago by native people, is filled with thousands of artifacts that includes at least one ceremonial mound which must be protected despite all the destruction, construction and presence of thousands of golfers.
The permitting process requires that the Federal government contact more than two dozen native groups and inform them of the plan, opening numerous routes to various delays.
* Required permits. The wetland permit application which was recently been filed, and about which many complex questions were raised by DNR experts, is not the only permit needed. Each permit requires a separate application, review, and so on.
* Because the golf course property is also to absorb several acres of adjoining land in Kohler Andrae State Park, the park's operating Master Plan will have to be amended by the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board which oversees the Department of Natural Resources.
The Board is heavy with Walker appointees, but amending a state park Master Plan, especially for a park as popular as is Kohler Andrae which has long-standing strong advocacy, is not a slam dunk.
The Board decision will require a public vote; public testimony is not required but could be allowed by the Board.
* Finally, the DNR's draft Environmental Impact Statement assessing all the environmental impacts posed by the golf course plan has not yet been deemed complete by the DNR.
All of these issues have to be addressed, reviewed, and as with all such matters - - possibly litigated - - regardless of whether the golf course property remains in the Town of Wilson or is annexed by the City of Sheboygan.
I'm not downplaying the significance of the annexation ploy. I'm just saying that there are multiple timetables in play, regardless.
While that possible annexation may or may not happen, and may or may not have consequences both expected and unexpected, it's important to remember that the plan to convert a 247-acre wooded-and-wetland-and rare dune-rich nature preserve
into a high-end, groundwater-sucking and traffic spawning private facility at the edge of the lake still faces many hurdles regardless of which local jurisdiction the golf course is allowed to put on its return address, including:
* Tribal approvals. Remember that the Bad River band's treaty rights and legal prerogatives were among the key reasons the proposed Gtac open-pit iron mine plan for the Bad River watershed collapsed. A new national report about that is here.
This is relevant because the proposed golf course site was occupied long ago by native people, is filled with thousands of artifacts that includes at least one ceremonial mound which must be protected despite all the destruction, construction and presence of thousands of golfers.
The permitting process requires that the Federal government contact more than two dozen native groups and inform them of the plan, opening numerous routes to various delays.
* Required permits. The wetland permit application which was recently been filed, and about which many complex questions were raised by DNR experts, is not the only permit needed. Each permit requires a separate application, review, and so on.
* Because the golf course property is also to absorb several acres of adjoining land in Kohler Andrae State Park, the park's operating Master Plan will have to be amended by the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board which oversees the Department of Natural Resources.
The Board is heavy with Walker appointees, but amending a state park Master Plan, especially for a park as popular as is Kohler Andrae which has long-standing strong advocacy, is not a slam dunk.
The Board decision will require a public vote; public testimony is not required but could be allowed by the Board.
* Finally, the DNR's draft Environmental Impact Statement assessing all the environmental impacts posed by the golf course plan has not yet been deemed complete by the DNR.
All of these issues have to be addressed, reviewed, and as with all such matters - - possibly litigated - - regardless of whether the golf course property remains in the Town of Wilson or is annexed by the City of Sheboygan.
I'm not downplaying the significance of the annexation ploy. I'm just saying that there are multiple timetables in play, regardless.
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